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From one of fashion's most important changemakers, a memoir of breaking barriers
When Edward Enninful became the first Black editor in chief of British Vogue, few at the heights of the elitist world of fashion wanted to confront how they failed to represent the world we live in. But Edward, a champion of inclusion throughout his life, rapidly changed that.
Edward grew up in Ghana in a world of beauty, riotous color, and strong Black women. Nurtured by his mother, a dressmaker of fabulous garments with a flair for drama, he learned in her atelier what it meant for a woman to see herself as truly beautiful. But at the threat of violence, his family fled the country, becoming refugees in London. There, Edward found himself facing a more insidious and institutionalized danger: a culture of diminished opportunities and thwarted hopes, a country where he would be judged harshly for the color of his skin.
Discovered by a fashion editor on the Underground when he was sixteen, Edward was soon in the middle of the heady, wild, and vibrant fashion scene of Eighties London. A Black, gay, working-class refugee, he was constantly othered, but he found a home in fashion. These were the days of punks, post-punks, and the Buffalo movement, when you might run into Galliano, Boy George, and Madonna in a dingy club listening to groove and Afrobeat. Here, Edward found the freedom to share with people the world as he saw it, and to tell the story of the times we're in.
As Edward ascended, his leadership became a model for how to celebrate diversity and inclusion. Whether it's putting first responders, octogenarians, or civil rights activists on the cover of Vogue, or championing designers and photographers of color, he has helped every woman see themselves in the pages of his magazines. And he's just getting started. Written with the style, grace, and heart that have earned the plaudits of Oprah, Rihanna, and Beyoncé, this memoir is the story of a visionary who has changed how we understand beauty. Edward Enninful is editor-in-chief of British Vogue and the European Editorial Director for Vogue. At the age of 16, he was spotted on a train by renowned fashion stylist Simon Foxton, and signed as a fashion model. Two years later, he became the fashion director of i-D magazine, making him the youngest fashion director in history of an international publication. As a lifelong advocate for diverse voices, Edward spearheaded "The Black Issue" at Italian Vogue which featured only Black models. He eventually rose to become the fashion and style director of W Magazine. In 2017, Edward became editor-in-chief of British Vogue, making him the only Black person to serve in this role in the history of Vogue. Born in Ghana, he currently resides in London.
When Edward Enninful became the first Black editor in chief of British Vogue, few at the heights of the elitist world of fashion wanted to confront how they failed to represent the world we live in. But Edward, a champion of inclusion throughout his life, rapidly changed that.
Edward grew up in Ghana in a world of beauty, riotous color, and strong Black women. Nurtured by his mother, a dressmaker of fabulous garments with a flair for drama, he learned in her atelier what it meant for a woman to see herself as truly beautiful. But at the threat of violence, his family fled the country, becoming refugees in London. There, Edward found himself facing a more insidious and institutionalized danger: a culture of diminished opportunities and thwarted hopes, a country where he would be judged harshly for the color of his skin.
Discovered by a fashion editor on the Underground when he was sixteen, Edward was soon in the middle of the heady, wild, and vibrant fashion scene of Eighties London. A Black, gay, working-class refugee, he was constantly othered, but he found a home in fashion. These were the days of punks, post-punks, and the Buffalo movement, when you might run into Galliano, Boy George, and Madonna in a dingy club listening to groove and Afrobeat. Here, Edward found the freedom to share with people the world as he saw it, and to tell the story of the times we're in.
As Edward ascended, his leadership became a model for how to celebrate diversity and inclusion. Whether it's putting first responders, octogenarians, or civil rights activists on the cover of Vogue, or championing designers and photographers of color, he has helped every woman see themselves in the pages of his magazines. And he's just getting started. Written with the style, grace, and heart that have earned the plaudits of Oprah, Rihanna, and Beyoncé, this memoir is the story of a visionary who has changed how we understand beauty. Edward Enninful is editor-in-chief of British Vogue and the European Editorial Director for Vogue. At the age of 16, he was spotted on a train by renowned fashion stylist Simon Foxton, and signed as a fashion model. Two years later, he became the fashion director of i-D magazine, making him the youngest fashion director in history of an international publication. As a lifelong advocate for diverse voices, Edward spearheaded "The Black Issue" at Italian Vogue which featured only Black models. He eventually rose to become the fashion and style director of W Magazine. In 2017, Edward became editor-in-chief of British Vogue, making him the only Black person to serve in this role in the history of Vogue. Born in Ghana, he currently resides in London.
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