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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle

Sketching in style

Designers sketchbooks: Fashion designers sketchbooks:  Eley Kishimoto
Wak Kishimoto of Eley Kishimoto
Drawings for print inspiration
"I can’t explain in words what triggers ideas each time. As I still work most of the time in an analogue way, I have many tools and implements that I rely on, from paintbrushes to silk screens. But, if I have to nominate the essentials, it would be the pen and paper nearest to me"
Illustration: Eley Kishimoto
Designers sketchbooks: Fashion designers sketchbooks: PPQ
Amy Molyneaux from PPQ
Design drawings with fabric indication
"Our design process starts with points of reference, ranging from fabrics, works of art, general objects, people or whatever we feel is relevant to the theme we are working towards. It can even be a statement from a friend that suddenly fits into the thought process in our minds. We have a large space for displaying inspiration, and make it new and fresh each season or for each project we are working on."
Illustration: PPQ
Designers sketchbooks: Fashion designers sketchbooks: Antonio Marras
Antonio Marras for Kenzo
Fabric inspiration and silhouette roughs
“I need many things to nourish my inspiration: objects, images, stories and pieces of cloth. Everything that can make my mind travel and work, I continuously need to see new things, new places, to meet new people to listen to. At the same time, I need to be sure I can still count on old, steady things, things with a past and that already belonged to someone else, often things that have outlived time."
Illustration: Antonio Marras
Designers sketchbooks: Fashion designers sketchbooks: Basso and Brooke
Chris Brooke from Basso & Brooke
3D toile for basket weave dress
"Depending on the piece I’m working on, it may be more important to begin experimenting on the mannequin, as ideas can come about through simply pinning and stitching shapes together, ideas that wouldn’t necessarily come from drawn work. And, then, the results are photographed so I can decide which parts are working and which aren’t. I then mark the fabric and lie it flat to create the flat pattern.”
Photograph: Basso & Brooke
Designers sketchbooks: Fashion designers sketchbooks: Carola Euler
Carola Euler
"I love getting into the flow. This usually involves insomnia, solitude and listening to the same piece of music for hours. I have a love-hate relationship with putting my ideas on paper so they mirror exactly what’s in my head, often to the extent that I either start cutting and making straight away or I spend eons on a detailed drawing."
Illustration: Carola Euler
Designers sketchbooks: Fashion designers sketchbooks: John Galliano
John Galliano
Research books showing fabric ideas and inspiration
"I start with research and from there I build the muse, the idea, tell a story and develop a character, a look and then a collection."
Photomontage: John Galliano
Designers sketchbooks: Fashion designers sketchbooks: Margaret Howell
Margaret Howell
Mood sketch for rain coat
"I always used to draw my ideas for clothes. The drawings were more about creating a mood or a feeling rather than being a specific technical drawing. My drawings are very loose and are more about a style than an exact representation of a garment."
Illustration: Margaret Howell
Designers sketchbooks: Fashion designers sketchbooks: Peter Jensen
Peter Jensen
Design drawings
"I like to draw using a black fine-liner and white copier paper. I always like there to be to be a bit of a story to each collection and I always have this idea of the muse, so I am always thinking about that.
Illustration: Alex Foxton for Peter Jensen
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