Former Editor-in-Chief, British Vogue
Regarded as one of the most influential voices in fashion, Edward Enninful OBE has helped bring widespread distinction to the British and global fashion industry. Edward has spent over 30 years promoting minority and ethnically diverse talent and has strived to eliminate ethnic exclusion in the industry by uplifting and giving regular exposure to underrepresented topics, talent, and models.
Born to a Ghanaian army officer and a seamstress, Edward became the youngest ever fashion editor of an international publication, i-D magazine at the age of 18. He quickly made his mark within the industry and by 1998 became a contributing fixture at Italia Vogue, catapulting him into world recognition as a leading stylist and cultural contributor. Here, as an advocate for diverse voices, Edward spearheaded “The Black Issue” which featured only black models, showcasing and celebrating black models and black women in the worlds of art, politics and entertainment. This edition made a substantial impact within the fashion industry and started a necessary dialogue amongst the wider public audience that continues today. From Italia Vogue, Edward continued to use his voice to make a positive impact in the industry with roles at American Vogue, W Magazine, and most recently, British Vogue – becoming the only black person to serve as Editor-in-Chief in the history of Vogue globally. Edward’s dedication to diversity in the fashion industry was honoured with the presentation of an OBE in 2016.
Edward has blazed a trail through his career and played a pivotal role in shaping fashion’s history over the last three decades, from the grunge movement of the early 90s to the supermodel era of the late 90s and the present fascination with personality models and celebrities. Known as fashion’s gentle revolutionary, Edward has made a substantial impact on almost everybody he has worked with. He also has a long-standing reputation for delivering creative and impactful images in his editorials and championing emerging talent within the industry.
In addition to his editorial work, Edward has helped to shape the vision of some of the most influential international fashion houses as a stylist, through his creative input coordinating fashion shoots for magazines, catwalk shows, reinventing brands, advising on advertising campaigns working with brands such as Gucci, Dior, Valentino and Versace amongst many others.
Edward wrote and published his memoir, A Visible Man, charting his life story to date. The memoir became a Sunday Times bestseller. Edward lives in London with his husband Alec and their two Boston Terriers Ru and RiRi.