When Talia Zoref started her career as a fashion illustrator, she didn’t really have the right requirements. She didn’t have the connections, inside information, or the right looks to make a name for herself in her fashion world.
But in the last few years, Zorev’s colorful and creative fashion sketches have appeared in Vogue and Elle, and he has worked with major fashion brands such as Fendi, Gucci and Chanel.
She said she was grateful for the meteoric rise of her career because “I did it myself.”
“It’s been a long and crazy journey,” she said in a recent interview.
And here’s the kicker. She is only 25 years old.
Zorev has a Canadian mother and an Israeli father. Although she grew up in Israel, she spent a lot of time in Canada and she adapted quickly to the two different cultures. Perhaps that’s why you can bridge the gap with strangers. Warm and sincere, she seems to make friends with everyone she meets.
Zorev was interested in fashion from an early age and said, “I was always drawing on the table.” She attended George Brown University in Toronto, then Schenker College in Tel Aviv.
At first, I thought I would become a fashion designer, but I actually wanted to combine fashion and art.
She started sketching fashion and blogging fashion as a hobby in 2013, but never imagined it would become her career. For a whole year she posted sketches and nothing happened.
Cap: Art by Talia Zoref.
At that moment, she decided to go to Tel Aviv Fashion Week in early 2014.
“I went to the security guard at the door and said I was a fashion blogger and he said, ‘Yes, you can come in,'” recalls Zoref.
Cover of Elle Ukraine’s “Tina in LA” by Talia Zoref.Image credit: Talia Zorev
Once inside, she met people and started talking to them. Soon she made her network and posted fashion illustrations on other people’s blogs with more followers.
On another occasion, she flew to New York City for Fashion Week a few months later. I showed you a moment.
Her sketches added her own flair, vision, and “vibe” rather than simply taking pictures of the models’ outfits.
Then, as now, she worked quickly, like a court stenographer taking quick notes. She still uses black markers and watercolors. Sometimes she has a glass of water to dip her brush in. She also has a portable watercolor set. Her style is vibrant and uses red, green, pink and blue colors.
Pioneer of fashion
Zoreg served as a medic in the Israeli Defense Forces and spent his annual two-week vacation sketching fashion illustrations.
Pretty soon, she was posting sketches of Valentino and Versace clothes in her early days on Instagram, for example.
“Then companies posted my sketches on their Instagram accounts,
Thousands of followers,” she said. “Today everything is so well thought out and these companies have social media consultants. Just a few years ago it was much simpler and more innocent.”
Sketch by Talia Zorev
Zoref’s style became more recognizable and popular, and by 2015, fashion guru was reaching out to her and giving her commissions.
“It’s important to emphasize that I had to reach out first,” she said. , talked directly to people and made connections of my own.I contacted a lot and some people didn’t reply to me but that didn’t stop me .
At fashion shows, Zorev was allowed backstage to meet celebrities like Celine Dion and Mariah Carey. She quickly sketched them and gifted her art.
“It’s very difficult to approach someone that famous,” she said. “I had to build my confidence. It took a lot of courage.”
Gal Gadot holding a portrait of Talia Zorev. right.Photo credit: Talia Zorev
“You seem to have a chutzpah,” I said.
“I think that’s my Israeli side,” Zorev said with a laugh.
“It’s exciting to meet and talk and hear people doing exciting things,” said Zoref. “But I’ve learned that they’re just human just like everyone else. That’s the biggest lesson.”
eye of fashion
Her exhilaration of working with fashion’s A-list celebrities began to wear off.
“I didn’t have the right social standing, and I didn’t have the looks of a fashionista,” Zorev said.
Photo credit: Talia Zorev
Forbes named her Israeli under 30 winner for her achievements in 2019, but she felt “it’s crazy that I have to prove myself.”
“On the one hand, as a female artist, I wanted to be a part of this colorful, creative and fun world.”On the other hand, I felt judged for who I was. ”
At that time, the idea of ”Eyes of Fashion” was born with co-founder Asaf Sela.
It’s a subtle and smart wordplay, as Zoref still uses his eye and unique skills to capture fashion design. But now, instead of her model face, she sketches big, bold eyes, sometimes one, sometimes five or six.
Her Eyes of Fashion isn’t just mimicking other people’s fashion, it’s becoming a brand of its own, making an increasingly influential and iconic statement.
“The way to heal myself and feel better was to make that eye,” Zorev said.
comprehensiveness
Eyes of Fashion’s mission is to enable other women to enter the world of fashion. The company plans to set up an online course and has launched a podcast on Twitter.
Zoref wants to break boundaries and make the world of fashion more inclusive, not only in the traditional world of fashion, but also in the Metaverse, where she was one of the pioneers of fashion couture.
“I applied for an artist exhibit at the NFT/NYC event in June,” says Zoref. “This is the largest NFT [non-fungible tokens] world events. ”
The event brings together thousands of people interested in breaking new ground in the Metaverse, including finance, technology, art, music and games.
“Out of thousands of artists, I was one of about 200 artists selected for an exhibition called Diversity of NFTs,” said Zoref. “I think I was the only Israeli.” Along with other winners, her art appeared on a giant Times billboard in her square.
“This was something I never dreamed of,” said Zoref. “Or maybe I was dreaming about it, and I was like, ‘Oh, maybe in 10 years,’ and now it’s already established. That’s very exciting.”
During NFT/NYC, Zorev auctioned 8,888 pieces of her digital Eyes of Fashion artwork on NFT’s largest marketplace, OpenSea. The entire piece sold within two minutes of her.
be honest with yourself
Zoref believes Eyes of Fashion gives authenticity to not only ourselves but others.
“You shouldn’t judge yourself by a standard image. It’s important to be yourself. We can be very happy and live our true selves,” she said.
Alma My Love’s Talia Zoref Jewelry Collection.Photo credit: Talia Zorev
One of the highlights of her career so far has been walking the runway at fashion shows. The first time she did it, she didn’t walk as a model. Instead, she walked as an artist.
“I never dreamed of being a model, but a girl like me on the runway!” said Zorev.
“I was so happy to be there. It was really interesting and fun.
