The Founder, Illustrate Impact initiative, Ruqayya Ahmad, has come up with a problem ‘From Scrap to Masterpiece’, aimed at encouraging young minds to embrace fashion illustration.
The Ruqayya at an event to celebrate fashion illustration as a tool for empowerment, said the vision of the programme was to empower fashion illustrators, amplify their voices and showcase their creative contributions in the fashion industry.
“We are committed to harnessing the power of fashion illustration as a force for empowerment and social change.
“By empowering illustrators and non-illustrators in fashion design industry, we hope to create opportunities around Sustainable Developmental Goals,” she said.
Ruqayya further said that the organisation would continue in the campaign momentum by also hosting a one of its kind auction where the proceeds from the auctioned piece would be used to support Gender Based Violence (GBV) survivors and at risk children.
On her part, a Fashion Illustrator also known as @walidasillustrations, Walida Shehu said the programme was set to encourage newbies in fashion illustration to be consistent in what they do.
“We all started from the scratch, nobody is perfect but the most important thing is to start, have passion for it and stay consistent and you will see beautiful mistakes”
A Guest Speaker, Maryam Idris explaining that the illustration was her first experience, but had now seen the beautiful aspect of it.
“Fashion illustration has the power to give you a unique style, you don’t have to copy somebody’s style. It is your idea, you own it and should be given the credit.”
Another Illustrator, Deshola Samson, said the experience was awesome and interactive session, saying that it was a journey to discovering a way to style clothes in a unique way.
Attendees were engaged in a design session where participants conceptualise a design using fabrics scraps, illustrations, games and other activities.