Vogue's New Direction
Edward Enninful’s First British Vogue Cover
It’s finally here! The December issue of British Vogue. This marks the first issue edited by the new Editor in Chief Edward Enninful, the first black male editor of the publication. Enninful is the successor to Alexandra Shulman who was editor for 25 years. With a new fearless leader at the helm Enninful’s first issue has already created a buzz amongst the fashion community and social media. Enninful’s first cover features model and feminist activist Adwoa Aboah, who is the 3rd black model to ever grace the glossy cover of British Vogue, solo. It seems Enninful’s first cover is already in step with the times as the industry has come under fire lately for the lack of diversity in models and on the runways, in ad campaigns, and on the pages of publications.
Enninful’s predecessor, Alexandra Schulman, one of whom have come under fire for the lack of diversity not only on the cover of the magazine, but also amongst the staff that assisted her during her 25 year stint as Editor in Chief. In response to lack of diversity on the cover she stated, “If [I’d] put a black face on the cover who was not instantly recognizable, [I’d] sell fewer copies. It’s as simple as that.” As for why such lack of diversity in her staff, she stated. that ‘over the years there have been people of all kinds of ethnicities in the magazine. On that particular day [the photo was taken] there was nobody there and, you know, it’s frustrating.” Enninful was quick to change that as with his arrival came the departure of some of the editing staff including Fashion Director Lucinda Chambers, who’d worked for the publication for 36 years.
Enninful has always been an advocate for more diversity in the industry. His contributions to the issue includes editing the first “ All-Black Issue” of Vogue Italia in 2008, which featured four different covers of four major black models Liya Kebede, Sessilee Lopez, Jourdan Dunn and Naomi Campbell, but even more recently a Gap ad campaign which featured models, athletes, actresses, musicians, and activists of all different races and backgrounds. With his arrival to the publication Enninful brings not only a fresh outlook but also a fresh new team, including close friends and now contributing Editors, Naomi Campbell and Steve McQueen, and Pat McGrath, as Beauty Editor-at-large. With the pressure his first issue out of the way excitement is mounting for what Enninful has yet to bring to the publication.