LYUBOMIR DOCHEV

Bleu: How long have you been drawing/illustrating? How did you get your start?

Lyubomir Dochev: It probably sounds a bit cliché, but I was a really creative kid and was drawing and illustrating from a really young age not knowing that this might be my career one day. I was using all my free time trying to redraw Disney characters and also think of cool clothing designs (at least in my head they were cool back then lol). But it was not until I finished high school that I started taking my passion more seriously. Instagram was the place where I was showing my creations and sharing them with the world. I was surprised by how many people actually cared about what I was doing. Being recognized by some of the biggest celebs like Rihanna, Ariana Grande,

XZendaya, Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid and Winnie Harlow just to name a few was definitely a push for me to continue believing in my creative vision.

Bleu: Do you consider this more of a hobby, or is this the direction you’d like to take your career?

Dochev: At the beginning, I was definitely seeing this more as a hobby but the interest in my work became really big that I started taking this as an opportunity to really explore more of my talent and not being afraid to turn it into a career. I firmly believe that this is only part of me and I look forward to using the gift that God gave me to develop my own clothing and jewelry brand one day, because

RIHANNA

Rihanna wearing Savage X Fenty

Dreamy Gigi Hadid for her Gigi X Frankies Bikins

I am truly passionate about building and showcasing my vision when it comes to fashion and styling. Modeling and photography are also things I have considered, so I am not afraid to experiment and see what will make me happy.

Bleu: What work are you most proud of?

Dochev: I think we should be proud of each little step we are taking towards our goals and I am definitely thankful that I managed to go through a lot of hit-and-miss moments because they taught me a lot as a self-taught artist. But I might say that some of my most memorable moments were when my work was used as a card that was going with one of the first Rihanna “Riri” perfumes or when Winnie Harlow was wearing a hand-painted jacket by me. These two moments really pushed me in the beginning of my path!

Bleu: Tell us about your love of fashion and how you use illustration to merge the two worlds. Dochev: I have always had an eye for details and appreciation for people with different styles, who are not afraid to stand out. That is really what excites me and makes me want to create art that revolves around fashion. I love reimagining clothes and accessories in my own way and using them as styling ideas on my illustration models. Fashion is art and being an illustrator is a huge part of it because that’s how every design idea starts — with sketch. That’s why I wish fashion illustration was taken more seriously by the industry because there are many talented creators who deserve recognition.

Simon Jacquemus and his flowers

Tribute to the life and legacy of Virgil Abloh