Bruno Grizzo's Elegant Brushstrokes

By Robert Cordero
April 7, 2010

Today, an essential part of the fashion design process involves using software such as CAD or Adobe Illustrator to produce line renderings of clothing. The technology "is very good and efficient for the technical purpose it is used for,” says Bruno Grizzo, a New York-based Brazilian fashion designer and illustrator, whose clothing collection has been sold internationally and in the U.S. at top tier department stores like Barneys. But while Grizzo contends that the precise measurements generated by the software are beneficial, he nevertheless gravitates towards the organic quality of hand done illustrations.

“I love sketching people. I like the movement, and creating a mood and an attitude with lines,” says Grizzo, who is currently taking a hiatus from fashion design to focus on his drawings.

His illustrations, which he describes as "easy" and "uncomplicated," are winning fans very quickly. “It happened by accident," he says. "A very good friend was working for Lipman, a fashion branding and advertising [company]. One of their clients is Halston. They were working on a limited edition illustrated lookbook for editors and VIP clients. The illustrator they were using fell through at the last minute. My friend asked me if I could do it for the next day,” says Grizzo. And he did.

As luck would have it, he has been since been commissioned to produce illustrations by Danish jeweler George Jensen; Jeffrey, the mecca of style in the meatpacking district; the Neue Galerie and Tiffany. "I just did a big project for Ann Taylor," he tells us. "I illustrated their fall collection for in-store promotions and I tried to make the models look glamourous and fun. It was the same with a project I did for Halston. With illustrations, you can exaggerate and create a mood, which is different from photography."

Grizzo, who cites Gruau, Gustavson, and Jarno Kettunen as some of Grizzo’s favorite illustrators, describes his style as "spontaneous, quick and elegant. I try to capture the entire image with a few lines and fewer brush strokes.”

Grizzo's chose four of his favorite illustrations to share with us.

clockwise from top left:

MiuMiu from the runway, fall 2009: "I love the fur and how it became the focal point and also blended itself to the figure."

Girl in blue: "This is for Halston; its very fluid and the motion came out really well. There is a good energy."

The Centennial Ring from George Jensen: "It was a challenge to translate such a sharp design and materials into watercolor, which is by nature so loose, and at the same time, keep those characteristics."

Girl in grey: This is also for Halston, but the opposite of the previous one. It’s static, her energy is there without the movement.

Grizzo's eBay picks reflect his aesthetic.

1. Original 1930's Fashion Advert Illustration Art Gloves (buy it now price, $60) "Love this composition."

2. Harper's Bazaar Illustration March 1941 (buy it now price, $45) "Vintage magazines are a great collectors item. If they come up, buy them."

3. Original Vintage Fashion Trade Publication Illustration Art (buy it now price, $68) "I am thinking of buying this myself! Its great."

4. Fashion Illustration, Mary Martin, Ca 1920s (starting bid, $250) "I love this piece. The illustration is a good one and it's in great condition."

5. New 100 Years of Fashion Illustration By Cally Blackman (buy it now price, $46.73) "This is a great book to have if you like fashion illustrations."

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