Bal Harbour

C O U R T E S Y O F K E L LY B A I L E Y in this issue Kelly Bailey, Bal Harbour's Illustrator in Residence for the Spring issue, is a UK-based designer and illustrator who has worked with some of the most beloved brands in the fashion industry for more than 20 years. In her signature style, Bailey employs a combination of drawing and painting to explore ink effects, layered transparent color, and shadow and composition. Her work has appeared in numerous magazines and brand campaigns, and has also been exhibited in solo and group shows in New York, Miami, Paris, and London. "The Bal Harbour team inspired me to express my visual voice, using painted marks to interpret and capture some of the subjects in this issue," says Bailey of the six illustrations she created for this issue. We asked the artist to share some of her current projects and career highlights, and to reflect on what it means to have a flexible hand. What are you working on that you're most excited about at the moment? I'm always excited by the diverse range of projects I have the opportunity to work on, getting to stretch my creativity toward different applications and narratives. Recently, I had the privilege of creating an illustration for the Financial Times, and I'm currently designing a selection of menswear prints for a Paris fashion brand's upcoming Spring/Summer 26 collection. I'm particularly excited about this, as I find seeing my designs come to life on fabric extremely rewarding. Fashion has always been a passion of mine, and collaborating with inspiring brands that share a strong creative vision fuels my artistic drive. ILLUSTRATOR IN RESIDENCE abroad had a profound impact on my life as a creative. The whole experience—professionally, socially, and culturally—is one I'm proud of. Beyond that, having my work published in a book had been high on my creative wish list. And last year, I was featured in Hoaki Books' "New Fashion Illustration: 50 Contemporary Artists," alongside other very talented artists. That was a very proud moment—mostly because I love books, but also for the recognition I received within the creative community and from a wider audience. Which emerging trends in fashion are most exciting and inspiring to you at the moment? After many seasons of restraint, I'm optimistic for a return to the dopamine hit that fashion can provide. Perhaps the recent movements of creative directors will see an exciting shift in aesthetics. That being said, collections by Roksanda, Ulla Johnson, and Stine Goya continue to bring the energy and artistry that I look for in fashion. How did your childhood love of drawing and creating evolve into a professional pursuit, and how did you come to textile design in particular? I always had a clear passion for drawing and painting, but I never actually thought it was a possible career in those early days. School also represents textiles as something very different to what the reality is in a professional context, so it was never on my radar and not something I had engaged with until applying to university. It was there that I was introduced to this world I had previously overlooked: color, pattern— fashion. I was hooked and never looked back! What is your process as far as tuning into the different and unique needs of each client and each outlet? Lots of initial research is key to understanding the individual handwriting and ethos of a brand or publication, while balancing that with my own style. Luckily, I have a flexible hand, meaning I can design to different styles. I actually quite like this—it keeps things fresh and interesting for me. What are you most proud of at this point in your career? My first job in New York is an obvious standout; I'm British, from a small rural village, so working CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Some of Bailey's work for Bal Harbour; a commission for Flaunt magazine; a snapshot of the artist's studio. BALHAR B O U RSH O P S .CO M

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