Blog by London based Fashion Illustrator Elyse Blackshaw
When fashion is fabulous, is community cool? There can be a bit of a stigma that community projects are not as esteemed as working with a high profile brand. However, community is at the heart of ensuring talented individuals have access to the arts and have the opportunity to become the next big designer or start a high profile brand. It is easy to forget that talented adults were once children. As someone from a small town in Greater Manchester with lack of art opportunities, let alone fashion illustration, I know what it is like to feel so far removed from the industry. If I am offered an opportunity to engage young people with fashion illustration, provide creative joy and freedom - then I'm 100% going to do it. There is no shame in inspiring others and sharing your skills.
I recently collaborated with Wandsworth Borough Council on "Fashioning Wandsworth" to create window installations in libraries across the London Brough as part of the Wandsworth Arts Fringe. This involved delivering fashion illustration workshops to primary school children aged 8-10 and explaining to them what fashion illustration is. For some perspective, most young people are not exposed to fashion illustration unless they study GCSE Textiles at secondary school. I gave them the full fashion illustration drawing experience, something I would usually deliver to college and university students. Mark making, life drawing, faces, figures and even large scale collage. It was full of energy and excitement.
If you have followed me for a while, you'll probably remember how I started my fashion illustrations with collage faces - see below:
To a small borough, the fashion industry can feel a world away, if it even exists to them. It was important for me to ensure the children felt connected to their illustrations and so we collaged their faces on to the illustrations. The project was all about self expression through fashion illustration and what they wanted to say to Wandsworth and the World. All illustrations included a message on their clothing, through colours and texts, inspired by designers such as Vivienne Westwood, ASHISH and Viktor & Rolf.
The messages were actually really touching, expecially coming from 8-10 year olds. Here are some of the messages that were written on the artworks:
Save wildlife
Be loud
Never give up on your dream
You can do what you believe
Be happy, kind, playful, colourful
Chase your dream
Never hate people, it's a strong word
Feel good about yourself, you are unique
Free Palestine and no taliban in Afghan
Recycling rules
Shine
Always be you
Say the truth
I want to know what's going on bro
Respect for all
Everyone matters
Football is not just kicking a ball
Free Gaza
Fight for what's right
Either you try and probably fail, or don't try and definitely fail
The messages range from self-empowerment and motivation to politcally aware protest messages. Projects like this allow individuals, especially young and sometimes disadvantaged children, to express themselves creatively in a safe environment - that is why I engage in social impact projects.
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