‘High Fashion – Art – Photo-worthy Locales’ – what more can an Insta-voyeur want! How about a give-back from Russia’s top Fashion Illustrator? Alena Lavdovskaya is doing just that! Sharing her world, insights and skills, Alena invites you to go beyond the screen and experience it for yourself in a studio workshop, revitalising the craft that in recent years has been ‘brushed’ to the side.
Alena Lavdovskaya, is no ordinary illustrator and she is worth more than her impressive 124 K Instagram followers. Her work has appeared in top industry publications like Vogue, Elle, Numero, and Esquire. Not to mention campaigns with Dior, Lancome, Estee Lauder, Hugo Boss and Tsum Moscow. With a remarkable portfolio like this, one could forgive Alena for resting on her laurels. But Alena’s passion extends beyond the parameters of her own career as she looks to reinstall the Golden Age of Fashion Illustration.
I’m talking about the time of Rene Gruau and Antonio Lopez an American Illustrator whom the New York times referred to as a ‘major fashion illustrator’. These fashion illustrators were revered in the same company as artists and photographers, not just vessels of advertisement. They worked in collaboration with designers, drew from life, had knowledge of materials and cut that informed their work beyond just style. These grand masters produced work that was intrinsically linked to the design but also independent of it; as a work of art in it’s own right and context.
Alena Lavdovskaya is one of the few contemporaries who practices this style of ‘immersed illustration’. Hailing from Russia, Alena has set up the countries first illustration and art-content agency for the fashion industry with her renowned Fashion Illustration Studio workshops. Whether you are an experienced or budding illustrator, participants can sign up for a fully fledged immersion into the trade of a fashion illustrator. In the spirit of Gruau and Lopez, you will discuss current trends, understand fabric and hone your style, whilst you draw directly from a high fashion shoot styled in the latest couture offerings. Alena explains, in these workshops:
“We will recreate the atmosphere of a real photo shoot and illustration session by the canons of the 20th century”.
In previous studio workshops, Alena has teamed up with luxury label Dior to present ‘Drawing Christian Dior’. A unique opportunity for outsiders to experience a private showing, live model and front-row access to couture garments that most can only privy on the pages of a magazine. That’s where most of today’s illustrators take reference – whether digital or on paper, illustrators today are equipped with a 2-dimensional visual of their muse. What Alena does is breathe life back to the flattened craft.
“Today any fashion show or photo shoot go public in a split second, while illustration becomes the antithesis of fast food consumption in the fashion industry. This is the opinion of Alena Lavdovskaya – the best fashion illustrator in Moscow – who aims to give this genre its due status back”.
HARPER’S BAZAAR on the workshop by Alena Lavdovskaya in June 2016
Whether you have your sights set on a career in the trade or a just a fashion enthusiast, the fact of the matter is fashion experiences are the new draw card for brands and artists alike to engage the public’s attention. The offset of these experiences from skill-sharing to increased longevity of the trade, to public support are incredibly positive for the future of the entire fashion community, not just limited to the field of illustration. It makes sense that Dior would align itself to such a project, LVMH are committed to the heritage of fashion, through projects like the Dior Master Class which ensures the houses unique couture applications are not lost to time. Likewise, Alena is more than qualified to share her skills but to my point, what’s more important is that she does.
To read more about available fashion experiences and safe heritage for the luxury industry, head to FIB’s recent article, here.
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