Illustrating Paris A/W 24 Menswear With Danny Ische-Knoblauch

Before fashion film, there was fashion photography; before fashion photography, there was fashion illustration. Dazzling the pages of many of fashion's most revered publications, wondrous illustrations adorned the covers (and continued to decorate the inside pages) of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Flair, Tatler and many more throughout the first half of the 20th century, proving quite an asset to the quintessential style bible. Having always believed in the power of illustration, primarily when used to communicate a mood or palpable presence, SHOWstudio have long been inviting fashion's most talented illustrators, on and under the radar, to offer their unique talent in interpreting the latest season's collections.

Danny Ische-Knoblauch (aka, @okniceok) is a draughtsman in the purest form. Where his illustrations lack colour, they make up for in the artist's extraordinary ability to pay attention to even the finest of details, meaning his illustrative style may appear somewhat calm and paired back, but there's no mistaking the artist's formidable talent. Speaking of his meticulous drawing style, Ische-Knoblauch told SHOWstudio, 'In the last few years, I've drawn in many different styles, replicating other media-like computer screens and low-resolution images.' He continues, 'Now, I've been focused on trying to push the limits of minimal tools, finding new strategies to create different effects and textures'; a commitment as clear as day when you so much as glance at Ische-Knoblauch's work.

Shows that caught Ische-Knoblauch's illustrative eye this season include Louis Vuitton, Acne Studios, Walter Van Beirendonck, Rick Owens and Givenchy. 'I'm looking for pieces and outfits that can be used to create a bigger picture, or will begin to narrate a scene around the model', the illustrator noted of his choices. 'It will be most helpful for me to make a drawing if I can use the clothing and model's expression as a springboard to start building a story or sequence based on the collection as a whole.' For Louis Vuitton, Ische-Knoblauch's hyper-realistic portraits lent themselves perfectly to artistic director Pharrell's cowboy-inspired silhouettes, blurring the line between A/W 24 runway illustrations and lost relics of the Wild West era. As for the strange yet wonderful world of Walter Van Beirendonck? The designer's emphasis on oversized and exaggerated shapes were not lost on Ische-Knoblauch.

Although Ische-Knoblauch's style has taken some time to master, that doesn't mean he thinks it's his way or the highway. 'Fashion illustration as a medium has never been as important because it is more accessible than ever before', he clarifies. 'Technological advancements in illustration programs on the computer and through social media mean the barrier of entry into illustration or drawing is very low, which is very important for allowing anyone to express themselves or work through their ideas in a new way.' As for what makes a good fashion illustration? It's all about inspiring others. 'I believe a good illustration should always inspire the viewer to draw or express themselves in some way', asserts Ische-Knoblauch. 'Whether it be because the viewer sees something that they agree with, within the illustration, or because it simply reminds them of a dream and they too want to capture, it's truly all about inspiration'.

You can view all of Danny Ische-Knoblauch's illustrations for Paris A/W 24 menswear here.