Fashion illustration makes a comeback

The annual AUT University Rookie fashion show has broken from the tradition of using photographs to promote their show.

Instead, honours student Nadeesha Godamunne has hand-illustrated all the promotional material for the event on October 15.

The 22-year-old’s illustrations have been printed on promotional postcards and advertising.

Lecturer Lisa Lloyd-Taylor said the use of illustrations was as “fresh and vibrant” idea, and it was exciting for the department to be able to use postgraduate work to promote the show.

“ It’s a little bit new and different and we have noticed that there’s been a resurgence of fashion illustration in the fashion industry,” she says.

“Illustration is something I’ve always done and loved but I never thought I would be able to specialise in it for my honours year,” said Godamunne.

“I decided to go down an avenue where I interviewed designers and fashion editors and found out their viewpoint on illustration, and why it isn’t used in their designs or publications,” said Godamunne.

“New Zealanders are sometimes really safe and almost too scared to try new things.”

Earlier this year Godamunne picked up two major prizes at Dunedin’s ID Awards and Westfield Style Pasifika for dresses with hand-illustrated prints on them.