Fashion illustration
has been around for decades, but it is only in recent years that this
profession has been receiving the importance it deserves. The job of a fashion
illustrator is to work closely with a fashion designer and illustrate on paper
the ideas in the designer’s mind. For this, an illustrator’s creation can be as
precise and detailed as possible or as vague as they please and add as much
dramatics they see fit. An aspirant pursuing this career line can opt to join a
fashion house, join a particular designer or just fly solo.
Fashion illustration
in India still has a long way to go, but thankfully the foundation is already
set. Belinda Bawa, a leading illustrator of our time, is one of the first known
illustrators. It started with the design project for the film Devdas. Neeta
Lulla who was working on the costumes for the film approached Belinda to create
dramatic and elaborate designs. After this there was no stopping her from
charting new heights.
Though a famous
fashion illustrator now, she has done and experienced a host of other things.
From teaching to writing, this talented lady has done it all. Her experience
includes Visual Merchandising comprising names like Burlingtons at the Taj
(Mumbai), Vikram Phadnis (Design Studio). Over the years she has supervised
backstage with backstage managers Vahbeez and Delnaz in over fifty fashion shows
for designers like J.J. Vallaya, Abu Jani, Sandeep Khosla, Neeta Lulla, Wendell
Rodricks and Tarun Tahiliani among others.
She worked briefly as
a Fashion Consultant for Sheetal Departmental store. Accessory designing too
falls under her profile. She designed and developed Avant Grade accessories for
a collection presented in India, Dubai, UK for Vikram Phadnis, Neeta Lulla,
Rohit Verma and others. She did not even leave writing; she wrote articles on
fashion events and trends for a website.
Belinda’s
illustration expertise was seen in films too. She did detailed costume
illustration for films like Devdas, Kisna, Aisha and the
list goes on.
The illustrator even ventured into the field of
teaching. She taught S.N.D.T. Women’s University as Asst. Professor to Wendell
Rodericks for History of World Costume. Raheja University, N.I.F.T (National
Institute of Fashion Technology), C.E.P.Z Institute of Textile and Fashion
Technology, Mod Art Institute of Management along with which she conducted
personalized workshop and crash courses in illustration and design. Belinda is currently a Faculty at Whistling Woods Neeta Lulla School of Fashion where she shares her experiences and expertise in
the field of illustration with young aspirants.