Talk Art

Russell and Robert meet Edward Enninful OBE, editor-in-chief of British Vogue. Over the past two and a half years as editor-in-chief of the famed publication, he has helped shape a new vision for fashion media — not just in the UK, but globally — where he has placed a “diversity of perspective” at its core.

Enninful has described his vision for British Vogue as “about being inclusive. It’s not just the colour of your skin but the diversity of perspective.” He has made art a priority including interviews and features with artists as varied as Lubaina Himid, Steve McQueen (who is Vogue's Contributing Editor), Luchita Hurtado, Celia Hempton, Anthea Hamilton, Lorna Simpson, Mark Bradford, Nathaniel Mary Quinn, Frank Bowling, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Howardena Pindell, Bridget Riley, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Rosalind Nashashibi, Maggi Hambling, Huguette Caland, Tracey Emin, Grayson Perry and Rachel Whiteread. He has also profiled curators and museum directors such as Zoé Whitley (Chisenhale), Maria Balshaw (Tate) as well as writer Zadie Smith and photographers including Nadine Ijewere, Tyler Mitchell and Campbell Addy. In 2019, Enninful presented the Turner Prize, in an historic year where all four nominees won the prize.

Ghanaian-born Enninful began his career as fashion director of British youth culture magazine i-D at age 18, the youngest ever to have been named an editor at a major international fashion title. After moving to London with his parents and six siblings at a young age, Enninful was scouted as a model on the train at 16 and briefly modelled for Arena and i-D magazines including being shot by artist Wolfgang Tillmans.

Inspired by London’s club scene in the 1980s, Enninful’s work during this period captured the frenetic energy and creative zeitgeist of the time. It was also during this time that he befriended many of his future fashion collaborators, including Steven Meisel, David Smins, Pat McGrath, Craig McDean, Mario Sorrenti, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. 

For British Vogue, Enninful ’s covers have consistently featured strong women who promote messages of empowerment: Stella Tennant, Oprah Winfrey, Adwoa Aboah, Naomi Campbell, Rihanna, not to mention his September 2019 edition guest-edited by Meghan Markle HRH Duchess of Sussex, which featured 15 trailblazing female changemakers including Greta Thunberg and Jane Fonda on the cover.

Enninful was awarded an OBE for his services to diversity in the fashion industry, and in 2018 he received the Media Award in Honour of Eugenia Sheppard from the CFDA in recognition of his career-long contribution to the fashion industry.

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