Drawing for Fashion Design

The importance of good drawing skills in fashion design cannot be overemphasized. Drawing helps designers to visualize their concepts more clearly. Any shortcomings or challenges of the design are easy to identify on paper and come up with ways of mitigating them. Unless one is naturally talented in the drawing field, a drawing course in an art school is highly recommended before embarking on a career in fashion design. The main difference between the normal drawing and drawing for fashion design is that the latter has to be practical. The drawing has to depict something that can actually be worn on the human body. Other artists can let their imagination run wild.

Figure drawing is the backbone of fashion work. The sketches should correctly match the human anatomy. It is also important to get the proportions right. Beginners are better off starting with a straight standing figure, then moving on to other poses as they build on their knowledge.

The male and female anatomies differ in various distinct ways. For instance women have shorter arms and higher waists. The hands and feet are also smaller in relation to the rest of the body. The easiest way to get the proportions right is to start with a grid against which the sketches will be made. Next is a distinct vertical line which acts as a reference point for the entire figure. For a straight figure, the line should pass between the eyes all the way down. For a slanted sketch, the vertical line may touch the chin and down to one foot. The horizontal lines of the grid should be at all the major joints.

After drawing all the lines, a rough shape can now be sketched. Beginners may find it easier to draw small circles at the joints and join them with somewhat straight lines for the arms and legs. The torso can be represented with rough triangle shapes facing one another. Finally, the flesh is added to the sketch, and the result is a pretty good Iroquois figure. It is advisable to experiment with all sorts of poses drawn from magazines, photos, internet, and real life and so on.

After mastering the figures, it is time to add on some clothes. One starts by sketching the usual designs that are all around us. After doing some practice, it is time to churn out original and creative ideas. It is advisable to keep the sketching book close by so that all the ideas are documented before they can escape. Pieces of sample fabric can also be pinned onto the page.

Another important aspect to keep in mind when drawing for fashion design is that the body is made up of curves other than straight lines. The lines used to sketch the designs should also curve around the body. After sketching the basic garment, it is time to include details and some movement. These can be achieved using a few faint lines on the outline of the drawing as well as shading. Coloring can also be employed to give a vivid picture of the final design.