Edward Enninful, British Vogue’s First Black Editor

Edward Enninful is set to replace Alexandra Shulman as British Vogue’s new editor in August 2017. He is currently the Creative and Fashion Director at W Magazine.

 Not only is he British Vogue’s first male editor but he is also the magazine’s first black editor in the magazine’s 101 years of existence since its first issue in 1916.

That is an important milestone in fashion, as people of colour have been  historically under-represented as designers, models, and editors in favour of their white counterparts.

Edward Enninful, 45, was born in Ghana and moved to Ladbroke Grove, West London as a child. He is the youngest of five children and became inspired by his mother’s work as a seamstress where she made fabrics with vivid and elaborate colours and designs. His first began his career as a model when he was discovered by stylist, Simon Foxton. At the young age of 19, he became the Fashion Director i-D, making him the youngest director in the magazine’s history.

Enninful has worked with some of the most prominent names in fashion including Donatella Versace, Marc Jacobs, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, and late Italian Vogue editor, Franca Sozzani.

Jonathan Newhouse, Chairman and Chief Executive of Condé Nast International called Enning “an influential figure in the communities of fashion, Hollywood and music which shape the cultural zeitgeist" and said he "attained landmark status in recent cultural history."

"Edward is one of the most talented and accomplished fashion editors in the world...Since 2011 he has been Creative and Fashion Director of W, where he has worked with the finest photographers to produce ground-breaking, highly admired editorial work. He has more than 25 years of experience as a fashion director, starting in 1991 when he became the Fashion Director of i-D at age 19, a post he fulfilled for more than two decades."

In 2016, Enninful was awarded an OBE for Services to Diversity in the Fashion Industry by Royal Princess, Anne at Buckingham Palace. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/people/edward-enninful-named-editor-in-chief-british-vogue/