Fashion Insiders

David Downton


Fashion Insiders is a series of short films, produced for Hantang Culture in Shanghai, portraying key figures in the fashion world. The series is shown in international airports, on select airline carriers and major digital platforms, clocking up more than 27,000,000 impressions per episode to date.

It features a broad group of representatives from fashion: CEOs of brands, presidents of luxury committees, creative directors, curators and fashion designers.

The series takes a cinematic approach to present their experiences, influences and insights with the goal of inspiring views inside and the outside of the fashion industry.
01
The Brief
Working within the usual format for the Fashion Insider series - a scripted voiceover recorded on location supported by beautiful, highly cinematic shots- our video agency was invited to shape a film that portrayed the work, inspiration and thoughts of fashion illustrator, David Downton.

David Downton ranks deservedly as one of the world’s leading fashion artists. His elegant yet contemporary images are a key factor in the revival of interest in the tradition of fashion illustration. His commercial client list includes Dior, Chanel and Tiffany & Co., while he has produced portraits from life of some of the world’s most beautiful and iconic women, including Cate Blanchett, Iman and Catherine Deneuve.

Since 2011 David has been drawing the most illustrious guests from the world of style and fashion at Claridge’s Hotels in his role as its first ever fashion artist in residence.

We caught up with David at Claridge’s with his sitter for the day, former cult film actress and queen of London vintage, Virginia Bates.
Fashion Insiders David Downton Fashion Insiders David Downton
Fashion Insiders David Downton Fashion Insiders David Downton
02
Our Approach
On this Fashion Insider film we were doubly blessed: to be working with David and his artistic talents, and against the backdrop of London’s famously elegant Claridge’s Hotel.

We had access to not only a beautiful suite, but also the magnificent Fumoir Bar, where David typically meets with his portrait subjects, to talk and sketch over champagne. The Fumoir Bar, all beaux-arts glamour with deep aubergine décor and ruby-red velvet seating, is like a jewellery box. The soft illumination from the Lalique crystal panels was gently supplemented with our own lighting by DoP and director Tomas Frigstad. By the end of this first sequence we knew that through Tomas’s judicious use of crystals, foreground and reflections we already had some fantastic shots in the can.

The suite - light and airy - was the perfect foil to the richness of the bar. We captured oblique shots of David’s iconic penstrokes and recorded our voiceover. In the Black & White Gallery, where his portraits for the hotel hang side by side as if in conversation, we captured gimbal shots of David walking past his previous sitters with elegant reflections and telling details.
03
The Results
The final video, edited by Tomas, sits comfortably in the Fashion Insiders portfolio alongside portraits of curators, designers and creative directors, but stands out as one of kind.

It’s a rich and filmic portrait of a fashion illustrator who is bringing the skills associated with a bygone-era to life on the page with a refreshing, contemporary twist - like a modern take on a classic cocktail.

We’ll drink to that. Cheers!
Fashion Insiders David Downton Fashion Insiders David Downton

Fashion

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Fashion Video Production

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