How to become a Fashion Illustrator: Career, Courses, Salary, Jobs, Scope

Fashion Illustrators are professionals who excel in the art of sketching and drawing fashion ideas, concepts, designs, which helps to visualise a garment before it is manufactured. Fashion industry is vast but specializing as a fashion illustrator is a rare and unique skill which will have more value when added with graduations and expertise certificates.

In order to become a Fashion Illustrator, candidates can pursue several Undergraduate and Postgraduate Fashion Designing Courses. India is home some of the top Fashion Designing Colleges, that are spread across several states. Usually these colleges grant admission to its students based on the performance during the Design Entrance Exams that are conducted, however there are certain colleges who grant admission on the basis of merit as well.

The average salary received post completing the course ranges between INR 5,00,000 – 6,60,000. However the salary increases gradually with experience and exposure. Fashion Illustrator graduates have a moderate to high rate of employment opportunities. Such candidates are hired in Entertainment Industry, Social Media Platforms, Fashion Industry, Garment Stores, Media Houses, Leather Companies, Textile Industries etc. 

Check Now: Fashion Designing Jobs

How to Become a Fashion Illustrator: Quick Facts

• Candidates must have passed 10+2 exams from a recognized education board.
• Candidates must be a graduate with a Bachelor's or Master’s degree related to the fashion industry.
• Diploma or Certificate in fashion design/ illustration and other computer based professional design tools is an added advantage
• The average Fashion Illustrator course fee ranges from INR 1,50,000 - INR 3,00,000 depending upon the type of institute.
• Top colleges in India offering Fashion Illustrator courses are National Institute of Fashion Technology Navi Mumbai, National Institute of Fashion Technology Bangalore, VIDM Institute of Design and Management etc. 
• After completion of the Fashion Illustration course, the candidate can join the Fashion industry, Garments/ textile stores, media houses, entertainment industry as a fashion illustrator or designer. 
• The average salary of an entry level fashion Illustrator is INR 3 LPA - INR 6 LPA. 

Check the full list of Top Bachelor of Fashion Design Colleges here.

Types of Fashion Illustrators

The work of Fashion Illustrator revolves around expression of ideas and designs. There are many Types of Fashion Illustrator and the aspiring candidate can find the details below:

• Pencil Illustrator: This role is most popular and the traditional method of sketching designs and fashion ideas. A pencil Illustrator has more control over his art, he/she can create shadows, lines (accurate), transitions. On the industry level, most of the art starts with pencil and later shifts to other materials.
• Charcoal Illustrator: Though charcoal illustrations are not precise as pencil, they are very creative in developing fast sketches, short stories and even nooks crafting. The best said advantage is that the textures are well described only by a charcoal illustrator.
• Water Illustrator: This type is very unique as the color pigments are used to create transparencies and nuances. This expert needs to have in depth knowledge on color combinations as the end result is soft and airy with a lot of depth.
• Fashion Designer: Fashion Designers have a great sense of fashion market requirements. The profession involves market research, sketching and fabric selection according to the customer's lifestyle and requirements.
• Graphic Designer: The job role of a graphic designer is to use photography, typography, illustration and iconography in his/her designs to communicate visually.

Also, read more about the IIAD Exam Question Pattern, Syllabus and Important Tips in detail.

Steps to Become a Fashion Illustrator

The candidate aspiring to achieve great heights in the fashion industry domain should know that fashion illustrator is an unique specialization where a relevant idea is communicated in a form of visual illustration/ drawing/ painting. An inclined passion towards drawing, graphics design, digital skill are the base to kickstart a bright career as a fashion illustrator. 

• Decision Making: The candidate must take a decision of opting for this domain/field either before selecting a stream in class 12th or after completing it.
• Subject Combination: Candidates with any choice of courses in 10+2 can take a Fashion Illustrator course. A Certificate in Drawing, Painting, Graphics Design and other Design Softwares gives additional benefits to such candidates..
• Entrance Exam Preparation: Admissions to undergraduate and postgraduate courses such as BDes and MDes are mostly done on the basis of entrance exams. However, some institutes provide direct admissions based on their marks in last qualifying examinations. Candidates in order to qualify these entrance exams must be thoroughly prepared according to the latest syllabus and have an advanced sense of fashion. 
• Choose the Right College: There are many institutes and colleges offering courses and certificate programs in fashion illustration. Experts and professionals say it is always better to take admission in a college/ institute which is specialized in fashion design only with good placement offers and industry recognition.

Also Check: Top Diploma in Fashion Design Colleges in India 2023

How to Become a Fashion Illustrator in India

Once you realise that you have this unique talent to communicate an idea in the form of illustration/drawing/painting, and you are able to focus on more detailing. Then it's time for you to take a decision to pursue a fashion design program and start a career as a fashion illustrator.

In order to get admissions to undergraduate degree/ diploma/ certificate courses candidates must pass in 10+2 examinations in any stream.

For master level degree/ diploma/ certificate courses, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in a related field. 

Apart from having a degree, candidates must also have through knowledge of latest fashion trends and must possess required skills that will increase their chances of selection and campus placements in their desired institute and company.

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How to Become a Fashion Illustrator in India After 12th

Candidates with any choice of courses in 10+2 with 45-50% aggregate marks can take admissions to courses related to Fashion Illustration. At school level, if the student is willing to become a fashion illustrator, he/she must develop the artistic skill and also focus on the subject to improvise the communication and their caliber to understand concepts and ideas.

PG admissions to become a fashion illustrator mostly require a valid entrance exam score which can be either national/ state level or institute level. Candidates with 50% marks or above at bachelor’s level are eligible for admissions. A certain relaxation in aggregate marks (mostly 5%) is provided to reserved category students.

In order to pursue a doctorate degree in a related field, candidates must qualify the entrance exam conducted at national level or by the institute itself. Holding a PhD in related discipline increases a candidate's chances of employment in top organizations. 

NRI, Indian citizens living abroad must abide by the state government norms in order to take admissions to their desired institute at bachelor’s or master’s level.

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