Meet Izzy Wells, a Fashion Communication and Business Studies from the University of Brighton. Izzy won the Fashion Illustration Award at GFW21 with her Frida Khalo inspired illustrations that tackle topics of self-expression and self-acceptance. Read on to learn more!
How do you feel about winning an award at GFW21?
To win the Fashion Illustration Award has been a completely surreal experience. I was so grateful to be nominated by my university so to now say that I have won this award is a dream come true. Illustration is my greatest passion and to be recognised at Graduate Fashion Week for it is so heartwarming, I am honoured!
What is the most valuable thing you have learnt at university?
After spending half of my time at university under a pandemic, my university experience was not what I initially expected. As a result, I've only been able to express my creativity from home. This self-motivation and innovation in seeking inspiration from other sources were tremendously beneficial to me. However, the support from my tutors and friends was the most valuable to me, giving me the confidence to strive for my goals!
What was the starting point of inspiration for your final project?
At the start of my final year, I explored the increasing prevalence of retouching in the media and the wider implications of this idealisation of perfection throughout my dissertation. I concluded that society must work to curb the spread of unrealistic and unhealthy social content across all media platforms and I worked towards this aim throughout my FMP.
I have always been inspired by Frida Kahlo’s strength and rebellion to break conventional beauty norms. Through journal and exhibition research, it was stated several times why no one is like her now. I wanted to question this: WHY is there no one like her now? What has modern society done to us and why are we so scared to break out of the norms? This was my biggest inspiration – to seek out people reflecting this fierceness and confidence, which led to Deep Dive Magazine, my FMP project.
What form does your FMP take?
I created a 100+ page magazine called Deep Dive dedicated to exploring the blurred line between self-expression and self-acceptance. This publication entails a series of women who express themselves confidently through fashion, beauty and art. Through illustration and photography, my publication shows a unique collection of human beings who have utilised their individuality and used creativity to accept who they are.
How has it evolved from your initial ideas and what have you learnt along the way?
Sketchbooks have always been the best way for me to explore my ideas and experiment with colour palettes, textures and different mediums. I found my work focusing on the female figure and I wanted to take this further - using my platform to celebrate women confidently being exactly who they are. My FMP gave me the opportunity to work with so many inspiring women and collaborate with them by using illustration as a tool to visually communicate their journey of acceptance.
These incredible women will feed into my work beyond my FMP, their confident energy and unique quirks blend into all of my characters. I am also so grateful for being able to work with fashion designers internationally online (due to creating over a lockdown) to translate their ideas and visions on paper for my FMP magazine editorials.
What are the messages and themes behind your project that you want people to take away? Do explore any topics like diversity, sustainability or politics in your work?
As the editor of Deep Dive magazine, I aimed to be an aesthete, seeking the importance of unconditionally loving our true identity. I wanted to create a safe space where people can open up about their lives and give a real representation of who they are. A place where we appreciate individuality in everyone; through publication and social media presence. We live in a society that actively profits from women’s insecurities and I want my magazine to instead help women to see themselves as beautiful just the way they are.
What’s an aspect of the fashion industry that you’re passionate about fixing or having a positive impact on?
My illustrations aim to represent the importance of individuality through fashion and beauty. I believe fashion has such a positive impact on our mental health by being a tool to feel confident and visually communicate your identity. I want my illustrations to be a way to promote unique designs and to dress for you and only you.
Now that you have finished your degree, what's your plan?
I am currently working towards my two-week exhibition supported by Cass Art, focusing on exploring fashion that represents self-expression through loud and playful colour palettes, patterns and exaggerated silhouettes. This passion for fashion and representing diverse women is something I want to explore further with the goal to collaborate with brands to create their vision. I also am keen to learn from professionals through placements to build on my knowledge- my passion for fashion illustration has just begun!