An Art Form That is Disappearing – Illustration
It originated with drawing and painting. Once upon a time, Fashion Illustration was commissioned by fashion magazines as part of an editorial feature, a form of advertising or promoting a collection by fashion designers or department stores. If you were to pursue a career in Fashion Design, as a student, several Fashion Illustration classes were on the required syllabus. This form of art, that has been around for 500 years is slowly disappearing before our eyes.
Living in an era, where time means money, speeding up the process of creating a garment and getting it to the masses can easily be done by computers, and could cost much less once applied correctly. Illustrations were solely used on fashion magazines, until the 1930s when Vogue use it’s first photographic image. It has gone from being a major way of communicating fashion to now playing a minor role.
Artists like Andy Warhol (1928-1987), Jean-Philippe Delhomme, Tanya Ling, Ruben Toledo, Julie Verhoeven plus many more, have worked for almost every major international fashion magazine and fashion business including Barneys, Dolce and Gabbana, Oscar De La Renta and Mulberry. I would like to give a nod to a professor that opened my eyes and taught me more about F.I.T, than anyone else.
I had the pleasure of having Professor Renaldo Barnette, at Fashion Institute Of Technology, taught me for four years. He graded your drawing ability and lowered a grade if mistakes were made, always pushing you until you’re at your best. Thank you Prof. Barnette for helping me understand that this isn’t just drawing but a form of art that should be respected.
Tags: Andy Warhol, Fashion Magazines, Jean Philippe Delhomme