From Sketch to Runway: A Decade of Margarida Carvalho’s Fashion Illustrations

Review: “Ten Years of Drawing Fashion” by Margarida Carvalho

“Ten Years of Drawing Fashion” is more than an exhibition—it is a visual diary, tracing the artistic evolution of Margarida Carvalho (@margot_fashiondrawing) over a decade of unwavering passion for fashion. Curated by Cristina Ramos Cunha and the Collective “Rabiscadores,” the show opened on September 27th in Carvalho’s hometown near Caldas da Rainha, Portugal, and will remain open until October 4th.

What makes this exhibition compelling is its honesty. The works on display capture not only the glamorous side of fashion but also the vulnerability of an artist growing into her own voice. Early, almost naive sketches reveal a young Carvalho imagining her own designs, while later pieces display a sharp eye for pop culture and runway trends, a fascination that blossomed when she began sharing her work on Instagram in 2015. The exhibition’s title reflects this milestone: a decade of illustrating, experimenting, failing, evolving, and ultimately thriving.

Among the highlights are her submissions to the FIDA Awards, with several works published in Fible II and Fible V, as well as her acclaimed 2024 collaboration with VOGUE Runway, where she illustrated twelve shows from New York Fashion Week. These pieces embody a confidence and refinement that contrasts beautifully with the innocence of her early drawings, making the show feel like a complete journey.

“Ten Years of Drawing Fashion” succeeds in presenting not just finished artworks, but a portrait of growth, perseverance, and devotion to craft. For those who follow Margarida Carvalho’s work, it is a rare chance to step inside the story behind her sketches, to witness how a decade of curiosity and persistence can shape an artist’s creative identity.