" MOKO: AN ILLUSTRATION HAS THE POWER TO TELL A STORY IN ONE PICTURE, WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATIONS"

Moko is an illustrator who specializes in creating visual stories that convey powerful messages through a single image, allowing the viewer to interpret them personally. Her creative process combines instinct and imagination, drawing inspiration from the world around her and her own experiences. Moko’s work often explores emotion, rebellion, and chaos, and she embraces collaborations that challenge her artistic boundaries.
One such collaboration was with us at Foxylab, where Moko worked on a limited-edition t-shirt in partnership with athlete Jestena L. Mattson. The design of the t-shirt, titled “The Highest Level,” reflects both Moko’s artistic style and the athlete’s mindset, combining elements of discipline, strength, and personal achievement. This collaboration brought together sport and art in a way that resonated deeply with both fans of fashion and athletics.

Before we selected the final design for the t-shirt, you presented 6 different illustrations. how do you elaborate your creative process?

At the beginning of each project I try to go through materials and collect as much information as possible, and then clear my mind and take a step back. I try not to think much about the project. If I do, I get too overwhelmed, start to overthink, and get stuck. I just let my imagination and instincts take over. It is much more fun that way! Once the initial sketches are done, I step back again. Once I come back to work, I decide if this is the direction I want to go or if I need to do more research. My process is kind of backwards, but it works for me.

Why do you prefer illustration to painting or drawing? What advantages and disadvantages of illustration have you discovered over years of experience?

I wouldn’t say I prefer illustration to drawing. I love to turn someone’s words or ideas into something visual. But I also love to just draw without any given directions, just go with my instincts. They both have advantages and disadvantages, but hey, so does everything in life.

Fashion sketches are somewhat close to illustration. Would you ever consider working in a fashion industry?

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a fashion designer. My grandmother was collecting all little sketches of dresses I drew, and it was a pretty big folder. Over the years, I found my love and my happy place in illustrations, and I am staying here. But who knows what the future brings.

In your opinion, what is the main power of illustration?

“A picture is worth a thousand words.»

An illustration has the power to tell a story in one picture, without any explanations. It lets the viewer interpret it in a way that only resonates with him

Recently, the number of collaborations between luxury fashion designers and artists grew dramatically. For example, DIOR menswear line released collaboration with Kenny Scharf for their Fall 2021 collection. Do you think collaborations have a positive or negative effect on fashion? Why?

I think collaborations are a great way for artists to gather new experiences, broaden their horizons, challenge themselves and then transfer this experience to fashion. Nowadays people are more intentional with the clothes they wear. And fashion designers are also starting to embrace this. It will be interesting to see where collaborations go in the future.

Was your collaboration with Jestena the first work you’e done with an athlete? Do you think a sports world can be inspirational to arts?

It was my first international collaboration with an athlete. But I already did some collaborations with a sports club in my home country. To me, sport and art are such opposites. One needs discipline and structure, and the other chaos, emotions and rebellion.

What inspires your work the most?

All the little details around me. I see a flower, and it will inspire me to illustrate a story about a brokenhearted girl with a flower crown. But a lot of my drawings are also personal stories from my life. The best therapy for me is to put them on paper.

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