Fashion illustration is a dynamic form of contemporary image-making with a growing presence on social media, in print and in brand campaigns. But Patrick Morgan, founder of FIDA, the world’s first awards to promote fashion illustration and drawing around the globe, asks, “Could someone please tell me why a photographer should be paid so much more? The only thing I can think of is the production, the lighting, the team etc. We need to change the whole mindset.”
Morgan is speaking during a panel entitled “Surviving as a fashion illustrator” in which he explains that there is a growing movement to replace the term fashion illustrator with fashion artist because the former suggests fast, low-budget work while the latter carries connotations of gravitas around work that requires days, even weeks, of labor. The career of a fashion illustrator often involves working at live events where the stress of creating quality work on the spot falls solely on the entourage-free fashion illustrator. “Maybe our agility, our ability to be more accommodating, is our downfall,” poses Morgan. “Maybe we need to be more divas to command the fee and change the mindset of the commissioner.”

Elevating fashion illustration to art form

Gill Wright, a freelance illustrator whose playful, bold illustrations, sometimes incorporating collage have appeared across editorial, advertising, brand identity, window displays, and in exhibitions, recalls being contacted by a big US brand who wanted to use her illustrations. But they offered to pay her in dresses. She credits Instagram with giving illustrators the opportunity to share the work that goes into their art, helping remove what she considers ignorance on the part of those who request work without intention of offering proper compensation. “We have a responsibility as illustrators ourselves not to do free work or cheap work, because you lessen the quality for everyone,” she says. “There is value there.”
A significant reason for FIDA’s existence is to create a sense community and support that had previously been lacking for the modern fashion illustrator who often wears ten hats, and may also have a day job. They invariably manage their own social media, communications, creative direction, are entrepreneurs, agents, business minds––as well as artists. FIDA offers the strength of the collective when the solitary nature of this career choice might be overwhelming.

Fida, the global online awards to promote fashion illustration and drawing, announced its 2021 award winners this weekend selected from nearly 1000 entries from 101 countries. A shortlist of 100 artists was communicated mid-March from which a quarter became finalists. Competition judges were headed by Fida brand ambassadors, Nuno da Costa, fashion illustrator for Vogue Portugal, and Francesco Lo Iacono, London-based fashion illustrator who reports on fashion week for L’Officiel. They were joined on the panel by industry professionals, Marcos Batuecas from Lacoste, Lucy Lyon from Tom Ford, Antonio Colomboni from Toilet Paper magazine and Fraser Clark from Wallpaper*, together with well-renowned illustrators, Chris Gambrell, Tina Berning, and Clement Louis.
Patrick Morgan, founder of Fida, delivered news of the winners via Instagram instead of during a glittering bash in a plush London hotel which was how the winners were celebrated in pre-pandemic years. FashionUnited spoke to Morgan to get his thoughts on this year’s submissions, and the return of fashion illustration to industry dialogue despite the difficulties that the pandemic has inflicted.  
https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/fashion-illustrators-should-be-paid-more-says-fida/2021021053524

Fida, the global online awards to promote fashion illustration and drawing, announced its 2021 award winners this weekend selected from nearly 1000 entries from 101 countries. A shortlist of 100 artists was communicated mid-March from which a quarter became finalists. Competition judges were headed by Fida brand ambassadors, Nuno da Costa, fashion illustrator for Vogue Portugal, and Francesco Lo Iacono, London-based fashion illustrator who reports on fashion week for L’Officiel. They were joined on the panel by industry professionals, Marcos Batuecas from Lacoste, Lucy Lyon from Tom Ford, Antonio Colomboni from Toilet Paper magazine and Fraser Clark from Wallpaper*, together with well-renowned illustrators, Chris Gambrell, Tina Berning, and Clement Louis.

Patrick Morgan, founder of Fida, delivered news of the winners via Instagram instead of during a glittering bash in a plush London hotel which was how the winners were celebrated in pre-pandemic years. FashionUnited spoke to Morgan to get his thoughts on this year’s submissions, and the return of fashion illustration to industry dialogue despite the difficulties that the pandemic has inflicted.  

https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/fida-announces-fashion-illustration-award-winners-2021/2021040554792

Fida has announced the winners of the 4th Fashion Illustration Drawing Awards live on Instagram after evaluating over 1000 entries from across the globe. The panel of judges included master classical fashion illustrator, David Downton; Selfridges Art Director, Shawn Davey; leading contemporary fashion illustrator, Stina Persson; fashion illustrator and all round creative, John Booth; fashion couture illustrator/social media sensation, Eris Tran, and senior designer for Adidas, Shivangi Bhardwaj among others.

Fida was founded by husband-wife team Patrick and Diane Morgan on a shared vision to promote best practice among fashion illustrators and artists, and it has, in just a couple of years, created a community for fashion artists that had previously not existed. In recent months Fida members have collaborated with Bulgari, Alberta Ferretti, Lacoste and London Fashion Week.

https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/fashion-illustration-and-drawing-awards-names-its-top-illustrators-of-2021/2021110859058