What’s one thing you wish would change when it comes to conversations around diversity in the fashion industry?
I think diversity should start from within. In my opinion, though, both are important. I think it’s more important than those who are pulling the strings are who we want to represent us as opposed to who we SEE being represented. If internally you have a creative team that’s, of course, great and passionate about their craft that’s diverse, then your results will show that genuinely and naturally. You’ll see the diversity in the results be it a campaign like my recent campaigns with AE, runway, an editorial, a movie, or whatever the medium might be. If the people in control are a non-diverse group, then efforts to be inclusive are executed poorly due to a lack of proper understanding or worse, disinterest. No one is better fit to understand a group than a member of that group. I think it’s best to have who is being represented be in charge of how the representation is delivered, and that all starts internally, meaning more diversity in staff, creative teams, meetings, directorship, and I think that will transcribe itself into the work.
What other Black fashion creators are currently on your radar?
From the brand and designer side, I’ve been a big fan of Heron Preston, Kerby Jean-Raymond, and Telfar Clemens as well. I own a few things from each of their respective labels and I enjoy the creativity that they display in their work. From the model and photographer lens, I love the work of people like Deon Hinton, Alton Mason, and Nicholas Wolf. Deon is a big inspiration as he’s someone who operates being in front of the camera as well. Alton is, of course, indisputably the best male model in the world and his work leaves me amazed every single time. I love the work ethic of Nicholas Wolf and what he does with his own label. I can’t wait for him to take over one day.
