How did you hear about Vogue Runway?
I heard about Vogue Runway because I saw a notification from Fida on my Instagram asking me to get in touch with them. Then Patrick (from Fida) sent me a direct message asking if I was able to take on a commission. Then I checked my email and I had a message from the Senior Archive Editor at Vogue about a possible New York Fashion Week assignment! It was completely crazy and I truly couldn't believe it was real, I was sobbing when I read the email because it was VOGUE and NEW YORK FASHION WEEK (the way that I'm obsessed with New York is crazy and it's a long life dream of mine to go there someday, since forever) so it was just too good to be true.
I heard about Vogue Runway because I saw a notification from Fida on my Instagram asking me to get in touch with them. Then Patrick (from Fida) sent me a direct message asking if I was able to take on a commission. Then I checked my email and I had a message from the Senior Archive Editor at Vogue about a possible New York Fashion Week assignment! It was completely crazy and I truly couldn't believe it was real, I was sobbing when I read the email because it was VOGUE and NEW YORK FASHION WEEK (the way that I'm obsessed with New York is crazy and it's a long life dream of mine to go there someday, since forever) so it was just too good to be true.
How did Fida help you through the process?
Laird Borrelli-Persson found me through Fida as they shared my work and facilitated my email to the team at Vogue and that's when we started to discuss my possible involvement with illustrating some shows for NYFW. They also helped me during the conversations with Laird and advised me to take on the job even though they didn't have a large budget to offer because it would be great for my portfolio and could give me a lot of exposure and possibly bring more amazing opportunities in the future. They also listened to some of my insecurities and tranquilized me during the process and I really felt the support because it was my first time doing anything like this, so it was great to have someone I could rely on!
What did it feel like to work for Vogue and also be paid and get a real commission?
Working for Vogue was absolutely insane in the best possible way! It was probably something I had fantasised about growing up but didn't necessarily think it was a dream I wanted to accomplish because it felt so unattainable. I was over the moon, extremely happy and full of gratitude and it gave me so much joy to share the news with my family and my friends, who have been supporting me and cheering for me for so long and witnessing my journey, my growth and evolution in the fashion illustration world and seeing them being as happy as I was, was an amazing feeling I will never forget. And on top of it all, to be paid and get a real commission truly gave me a sense of validation that my work matters, that I'm good at it and that there's value in what I do (which fulfils me tremendously).
Why did you decide to document your drawing process and did Vogue want the same?
Documenting the drawing process was part of the briefing, perhaps because they saw that it was something I did regularly as well. Or maybe because it gives the audience this "backstage experience" of how an illustration can come to life and the amount of work and dedication that goes into it, a bit like a garment can come to life and be part of a collection, I think.
The goal was to illustrate one to two looks a day during the whole week (from Friday to Wednesday) and also send them video montages or timelapse videos of the entire process.
How was the experience and what advice have you got for other illustrators like you?
The whole experience was a rollercoaster of emotions: I felt insecure about my work; I was pleased with it; I thought it was crap; I thought I was doing a good job, but then I didn't... I was exhausted from all the hours I spent in front of my easel... Overall I overcame my fears, insecurities and tiredness and I tried a lot of different things and challenged myself to use different art mediums to achieve different looks and textures and that was a big thing for me and I was really proud to make it to the end of week knowing that I gave my best, it represented me and that it was enough.
I think my advice for other illustrators is that you have to try to not give up when something doesn't work out as you planned in your head and to accept that sometimes you have to risk it because there's a possibility it can turn out to be amazing and you can discover a whole new way of doing things that can even resonate with you better than before! (I try to tell myself that as well, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but if you don't try you'll never know. It sounds very cliché but I've come to realise that it is the truth).
What was it like to see your work shared to over 9 million people?
It's not something I can really grasp, because it feels so abstract. But it is so nice to receive positive feedback from people I know and also people I don't know, who started to follow my journey because of Vogue is something very special and incredible! To feel the love and support for my work which I poured so much time and dedication into is amazing and I'm truly grateful for that and for this whole experience! I hope it can also inspire other fashion illustrators or even people like me who simply love to draw fashion to keep pushing forward and not giving up on a passion!