[Lesson 6] 10 Ways to Make Money as a Fashion Illustrator

How did you go learning the basics of watercolors?

Alright, what do you think about getting some inspiration?

That kind of inspiration and motivation that makes you feel eager to start taking action? Yay, I know you want this! Well, today, I want you to get pumped, happy, and thrilled because we’re gonna cover how you can actually make money out of your passion for fashion illustration, I have for you…

10 ways to make money as a fashion illustrator – all of them are fun and fantastic!

So if you’ve been on the fence about learning or improving your fashion illustration skills because you had no idea how to make a living as a fashion illustrator, this lesson is for you 🙂

Let’s get started!

10 ways to make money as a fashion illustrator

You can earn money as a fashion illustrator basically in two ways:

• Selling services
• Or selling products

Selling services, in my opinion, is the easiest way to get started because you don’t need to invest as much as if you were selling products. You need your portfolio, a website, a way to get in touch with clients, and your fashion illustration materials.

Selling products involve more monetary investment and to have an audience ready to buy – the first one is to get manufacture the products, and the second is vital if you don’t want to hear crickets when you launch your products. Although, nowadays there’re platforms, like Red Bubble, which allow you to sell some kinds of products without investing.

But, both ways are so fun, rewarding, and great. Actually, I’m super eager to get started selling products, and when I’m ready I won’t doubt embarking on that adventure – because something beautiful about being a designer is to have the real, actual, physical product in your hands 😉

Okay, so let’s start with selling services.

1 | Custom Work

This is the most common way to sell your services as a fashion illustrator. I’ve done this for seven years, and I love it because every project is different, has its own soul, challenges, and rewards.

Most fashion illustrators offer custom work to fans of their work, brands, fashion designers, and magazines. And, if you want to try this you can be hired to create illustrations for:

• Store window displays
• Runway shows
• Editorial features
• Fashion collections
• Lookbooks
• Magazine covers
• Stationery
• Fashion or decor products
• Books
• Fabrics
• Posters
• Advertising
• Packaging

The list is long, and depending on your clients’ requests, you’ll create fashion illustrations for things you didn’t even imagine.

2 | Illustrating Live

This is one of the most fun ways to work as a fashion illustrator – as long as you love traveling, being in touch with people, and don’t feel overwhelmed of illustrating live.

Personally, this is one I’m eager to try, although I’m an introvert. But, I think the experience and smiling faces will be worth the challenge.

Brands and magazines can hire you to illustrate live during runway shows, store openings, shows, and exhibitions. Rongrong DeVoe offers this, and does amazing.

3 | Portraits or Illustration from a Photo

This one is especially for people who admire your work and want to have a piece on their home. You can be commissioned to create a custom portrait of the person, her family, or friends. Or you can even be hired to create an illustration from a photograph – this is a very popular service offered to brides. Brooke Hagel does offer custom bridal prints.

4 | Stationery + Tech Cases

Let’s start with selling products, yay!

Stationery is one of my favorite things in the world, and it’s one of my dreams to create my own line of stationery featuring my fashion illustrations.

Whether you’re commissioned by someone to feature your illustrations in their products, or you create your own brand of stationery, you can create your illustrations to appear on:

• Envelopes
• Cards
• Notebooks
• Notepads
• Invitations
• Calendars

Besides tech cases are super popular, and now people want to have their favorite artists on their phone, tablet, and laptop.

Garance Dore and Angelica Moreno are two great fashion illustrators who create stationery and sell tech cases featuring their work.

5 | Illustrated Books

If you love books, and want to be an author or just illustrate for someone else’s book, this option is for you!

Imagine what would you feel walking into the bookstore and finding your illustrations in one book displayed at the entrance. OMG!!

Brooke Hagel has illustrated several books. And Kelly Smith has created Sticker Fashionista, a series of books featuring her illustrations, in which the outfits are stickers! – DELIGHTFUL 😀

6 | Coloring Books

Similar to the point above, but in this case the illustrations come printed in black and white, so the customer uses the book to color it herself.

This is super fun! Johanna Basford did an amazing work with her coloring books.

7 | Paper Dolls

Another product made of paper!

I remember that I LOVED playing with my paper dolls, one day I sneaked away from my mom in a big store so I could get one of them – of course, I got nagged when she found me, but after a couple of days my mom bought me the most gorgeous paper doll 🙂

And, the great part of paper dolls is that they can be created as digital products, so the customer prints them out and uses them – the same could be for the coloring books.

Danielle Meder offers some lovely paper dolls at her website.

8 | Fashion + Decor Products

You can create your own line of fashion and/or decor products, or you can use platforms like Red Bubble, Society 6, or Zazzle to get started.

The products in which you can feature your illustrations are limitless, and they include:

• Garments
• Accessories
• Shoes
• Cushions
• Bedding
• Bags and Totes
• Mugs

9 | Wall Art

If you want to offer your fashion illustrations to be embellishing the walls of your raving fans, then you can opt for fashion prints. And, if you use one of the friendly companies I mentioned before Red Bubble, Society 6, or Zazzle you can get started with no upfront investment.

You can sell regular prints, limited edition prints, or originals. Kelly Smith does a fantastic job selling limited edition prints on her website.

10 | Fabrics + Wallpaper

If you want to have your illustrations on garments and decor, but you prefer selling the fabrics or paper so that people create their own designs, then selling fabrics or wallpaper is your go-to option.

As with each of the product options I mentioned, you can produce your own fabrics and wallpaper through private manufacturers, or you can make use of companies like Spoonflower, which are doing an amazing work customizing tons of different fabrics, and featuring designers and illustrators on their website.

So, how do you want to earn money as a fashion illustrator?

These are only ten ways to make a living as a fashion illustrator, and you have all your life as a creative to explore, experiment, and try new and exciting ways to make money from your passion.

So what to do next?

Get clear on what you want to start doing. Build your body of work. Create your portfolio. Launch your website. And start selling your services or products!

But, first than anything, make sure you know the basics of fashion illustration, and the art medium you want to use – and master them!

And for that, I have something ULTRA SPECIAL for you! So, keep reading 😉

I LOVED this lesson!

I know that as a beginner, you may feel lost about how in the world you could make a living as a fashion illustrator, so hope these tried-and-tested ways to earn yo’ money have given you stimulus, motivation, and openness to the infinite possibilities you have in front of you, and inspired you to move forward and start planning your success 😀

If you have questions, just comment here and let me know!

With LOTS of LOVE!

LESSON 5

LESSON 7