Q&A: Illustrating New York S/S 25 Womenswear With Nura Saker

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.

Nura Saker is guided by one thing only: her intuitive desire to create art.

Inspired by her own experiences in fashion design, Saker views her illustrative approach as a continuation of the designer's vision she's faced with. Rather than creating illustrations inspired by fashion, her work instead acts in tandem with it, meaning her drawings offer an insight into not only her mind but the mind of the designer, too. By relying on her bold use of colour, Saker enhances each designer's world while also retaining a sense of mystery and seduction integral to pulling in consumers and although Saker's work varies greatly depending on whose collection she's illustrating, her signature elegance and bold expressive line drawings often give away she's the artist behind what is always candid, honest and ethereal work. To understand more about Saker's artistic process, we spoke to her to find out her inspirations and to see what makes her tick.

SHOWstudio: How would you describe your illustrative style in three words? 

Nura Saker: Intuitive, expressive and bold

SHOWstudio: Can you talk a bit about your journey to becoming an artist?

NS: It has been a challenging journey full of contrasts: exciting and boring, silent and loud, but also scary and calming at times. It has been both a priority and something I’ve put aside. It feels like a constant dance between the two extremes, and I think accepting that balance has been the most challenging part for me.

SHOWstudio: How does your previous experience in print design influence your artwork?

NS: My work as a print designer taught me how to approach any creative project professionally, regardless of the field. In print design, you have to anticipate the emotions you want to evoke in the person who will eventually wear the print. This experience heightened my sensitivity to how subtle elements can have a strong visual impact, and it also deepened my understanding of the importance of colour. During the years when I wasn’t focusing as much on my personal artistic development, print design pushed me to experiment with different styles and aesthetics.

SHOWstudio: Can you talk a bit about the process behind your fashion illustrations of NYFW S/S 25?

NS: Oh, this was just a lot of fun! It felt like starting with an idea and letting it unfold naturally, finding a way to differentiate each show. I have a lot of admiration for the design teams and the effort they put into storytelling, and how the details can make such bold statements. It was important for me to connect with that, rather than simply impose my own artistic style. I don’t focus too much on the garments and instead ask myself 'What is this show about? Is it a fairytale? Someone I'd want to meet on the street at night? Or is it about the strength of feminine sensibility saving the world?' I spent a lot of time mixing colours, which I really enjoy, and once the colours were right, the brushstrokes just seemed to fall into place.

SHOWstudio: What do you think makes fashion illustration relevant in 2024? 

NS: Fashion illustration is an art form, just like any other, and what makes art relevant is its ability to inspire and evolve. Art is infinite - there’s always inspiration to draw from, and each artist contributes their unique perspective, ideally inspiring others in return. Fashion illustration is a continuation of the designer’s vision, interpreted through the artist’s hands, and it will always have significance as long as fashion exists. 

SHOWstudio: Do you think having an individual artistic style is important as an artist? 

NS: No, I really don’t think so. In fact, I sometimes feel that having your own style can be limiting. In a world that values polished, corporate aesthetics, people often focus too much on 'style', 'what it is' and 'how to achieve one'. But isn’t the true task of an artist to be honest and connect with emotions, rather than celebrating one's 'own' style? Anyways, we are all human and have our own individual tendencies, and this will always shape a certain style—and I think that’s beautiful.

SHOWstudio: Is this something that's set in stone for you or constantly adapting and evolving? 

NS: The world is constantly moving and changing, so I believe artistic expression should evolve as well. If it stayed the same, it would become stagnant and just come to an end. 

To view all of Saker's New York S/S 25 womenswear fashion illustrations for SHOWstudio, click here.