Designers vs Fashion Illustrators: What’s the Difference and What Are You Actually Buying? Many people contact me asking: “Can I buy this design?” “Do you sell your designs?” These questions are very common, but they often come from a misunderstanding of the difference between a designer and a fashion illustrator . This article explains the difference clearly and helps you understand what you are really paying for. 1. Fashion Designer vs Fashion Illustrator Fashion Designer A fashion designer creates clothing for production. Their work usually includes: Designing garments for manufacturing Creating collections and samples Working with fabrics, patterns, and construction Preparing designs for factories and production Fashion designers are focused on making clothes . Fashion Illustrator A fashion illustrator focuses on visual representation . Their role is to: Translate ideas into fashion illustrations Visualize clothing concepts clearly ...