Carhartt WIP

Rory J. Murphy created a hand-drawn illustration for Carhartt WIP, using cardboard and paint pens, a technique he has explored in previous painted work. The piece depicts a girl wearing a Carhartt collection item, with her thoughts visually spilling out, blending fashion illustration with street art influences. Cardboard was chosen as a medium to reinforce the urban, street-inspired aesthetic that aligns with the Carhartt WIP brand.

The process began in a sketchbook, where multiple concepts were explored and refined before transferring the design onto cardboard. Layers of paint pen were then applied to experiment with colour, texture, and visual storytelling, creating a dynamic piece that connects fashion, thought, and urban artistic expression. This introduction highlights the integration of streetwear illustration, brand-focused artwork, and experimental mixed-media techniques.

...Since the beginning, Carhartt WIP have built a strong, organic relationship in underground scenes, from hip-hop to skate, from graffiti to cycling...

Sketchbook Process

Rory J. Murphy created a hand-drawn fashion illustration for Carhartt WIP, using cardboard and paint pens—a technique previously explored in his painted work. The piece depicts a girl wearing an item from Carhartt’s collection, with her thoughts spilling out visually, blending street art influences with fashion branding. Cardboard was chosen as a medium for its affordability, accessibility, and connection to urban and street culture, which aligns with the Carhartt WIP aesthetic.

This approach was informed by prior experience with similar techniques in the Lifecycles Group Show in London, combining hand-drawn illustration, mixed media, and experimental urban visual storytelling. The project demonstrates expertise in creating fashion-themed artwork, brand-focused illustration, and street art-inspired creative campaigns, suitable for gallery exhibitions and commercial collaborations.

Final Poster

The final deliverable was a unique poster designed to stand out from other illustrated Carhartt WIP campaigns. Carhartt, known for supporting the creative industry, encouraged artists to push boundaries and showcase their products through innovative visual storytelling.

Rory J. Murphy used Posterman markers alongside refined illustration and street art techniques to create a piece that embodies simplicity and sophistication. The natural tone of the cardboard served as the base, cleverly suggesting the colour of both the girl’s hair and jacket. This minimalist, hand-drawn approach emphasizes Carhartt’s rugged and versatile aesthetic, delivering a striking design that achieves maximum impact with a clean, urban-inspired composition.

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