Fashion illustration has evolved as drastically as fashion industry over a period of time. In this PDF, you can see some of the most effective fashion illustration tips that can assure best results. Explore more.

1. Top tips
that every
professional
must be
acquainted
with

2. The fashion industry is known for its glitz and glamour but what often goes unseen is the amount of effort it
takes to produce beautiful garments, season after season. A lot of processes are involved in the making of a
garment before it is seen on the runway. Fashion design illustration is just the first step towards it. When a
piece of clothing is put down in a diagram to create a certain look, the entire process is called fashion
illustration.
It helps the designer explain his/her vision with regard to the look and style of clothing that he/she is aiming
for. So, illustrators give a visual aid to the clothes of a designer. Illustrations and fashion in fact go hand in
hand. Even though the way of illustrating glamour has drastically changed, the intention remains the same.
It helps in explaining and communicating fashion. There are different kinds of illustrations for different styles of
fashion. Ideally, a fashion illustration is exactly what the piece of clothing should end up looking like. Hence,
the colours used need to be very well thought out. The aim is to see how the colour scheme synchs with the
style, what silhouette is better and how good they would actually look.
Such illustrations that are created are not only used as a piece of art that helps in educating upcoming
designers but can also be seen amongst the glossy pages of high end magazines. Various illustration tools
can be used to create wonderful fashion illustrations. Some of the earlier tools included pencils, pens,
charcoal, water colour and Polaroid film etc. However, fashion illustration trends have kept on evolving
along with technological progressions and now highly advanced software programs are used.
The illustration artists must be capable enough to capture the essence of the designer’s clothes and make
them look larger than life. Everything from facial expressions to the shape of the body has to be created by
him/her. To keep things fresh, illustrators prefer using different media. Illustrators, therefore, keep all stationary
in high regard and never underestimate the value of their equipment. There are certain qualities that make
for a good fashion illustrator. Here are some fashion illustration tips to help you better yourself and improve
your illustrations.

3. Understanding the anatomy of the human body
Correct anatomical proportions make for better looking
fashion illustration sketches and this is a very important thing
to be kept in mind. When a fashion illustration is underway, it
is important for the illustrator to know the kind of body that
outfit has been made for. Knowing the target audience gives
the illustrator more freedom to work because then, he/she has
well defined limits. Having the imagination of what pose will look
good on a certain body type means that the illustrator will not need
a model to pose for him/her. This, in turn, means that the client is being
saved from spending money on the same. The ability to visualize what
an outfit will ultimately look like demonstrates the illustrator’s expertise
and flexibility.
Highlight the fashion piece to the highest level possible
It might have escaped your notice but the proportions
of the human body used in illustrations are bigger than
actual human proportions. When a professional creates
fashion illustration for magazines, you may see long limbs
and generally, a skinny body. This has a purpose behind it.
The sketch or graphic is made in such a way that the best
part of the style piece or clothing is highlighted. For instance,
more often than not, where a dress has to highlight its side slit,
the sketch model is shown to have really long legs. This also
gives the illustrator an opportunity to play with the texture of
the dress that he/she visualizes and allows him/her to build up
the drama of the piece. Similarly, when a tiny waist is drawn,
it is done so because the designer wants to highlight the midsection
of the dress.
Have a purpose behind every stroke that is made
For a fashion illustrator, frivolous use of drawing material
is inexcusable. A good illustrator would want to showcase
the sketch in such a way that it looks like it is moving within
its space. Accessorizing the sketch helps in extracting the
dynamic nature of the same. The job of an illustrator is to
depict a story through the imagery. An excellent way to
understand the anatomy of a human body and the movement
of different types of fabrics is to see models during a runway walk.

4. Highlight the difference between different types of materials used to create clothes.
The illustrator can make the image really fun and vibrant with the use of apt strokes. The right kind of
illustrating gives a certain charm to the product illustration when he/she is able to show the texture and
weight of a fabric. The viewer should ideally be able to see what material will be used to make the clothes;
whether it is soft or warm.
A good fashion illustrator in a typical illustration services India based company would have the ability to
work around patterns, prints and even delicate, lace fashion pieces. Surface designs make the image look
even more appealing as it lends a greater detailing to the image. Generally, the patterns that are common
during a particular time period shed light on the style trends of that era.
Hairstyles are equally important when it comes to quality fashion illustration services. The point is not just to
sell the clothes but the entire package. This includes the entire look. Hair is often the focal point of an
illustration and sketching the right kind of hair makes a lot of different to the final look of the graphics. The
hair can also reflect the culture or ethnicity of the model in the sketch. Accessories need to be included as
well. As already mentioned, it is about making the entire package believable. Imagination goes a long way
in creating a well-rounded image.
The end result has to be an illustration that has a good and strong aesthetic presence, highlights the vision of
the designer and the talent of the illustrator who makes the outcome look attractive.
Fashion illustration and related graphic design services provision is a professional avenue with huge scope
because the glamour industry is changing by leaps and bounds. More and more talents are being
recognised and the quality of the designs and everything related to fashion is on the rise.