PAUSE Highlights: 9 Influential Black People in the Fashion Industry That You Should Know

It’s no secret that the fashion industry has greatly benefitted from the influence, works and contributions of Black creatives. While these contributions aren’t always championed by the industry, there have been a notable number of visionary groundbreakers who have broken through the glass ceiling to pave a way for a generation of creatives, designers and editors in luxury fashion. 

As whole generation that is standing on the shoulders and foundation built by those who managed inhabit luxury spaces before people of colour were recognised for their work, we’re highlighting nine influential Black people in the fashion industry that you should know.

Paving a way for African Americans in the fashion industry and sitting at the upper echelons of the fashion elite, Andre Leon Talley cut a larger than life figure. Once a reporter for Women’s Wear Daily, Fashion Editor at Ebony Magazine and Editor for the Russian edition of Numéro magazine, Talley made waves in the fashion industry with an editorial spread in the 1996 issue of Vanity Fair where he challenged the notion of race. However, it would be Andre Leon Talley’s work as Editor-at-Large for Vogue US under the guidance of Anna Wintour that ALT would become best known for, alongside his exuberant and incredibly chic lifestyle (the man had LV luggage for his tennis gear). One of the most iconic people in the fashion industry, Andre Leon Talley is nothing short of a pioneer.  

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The first Black model to grace the cover of Vogue magazine, Beverly Johnson cemented herself in the history books with an opportunity that would open the doors for a generation of aspiring models to come. A barrier breaker by all accounts, Johnson, who was reprimanded for requesting black makeup artists, hair stylists and photographers for photoshoots, would go on to be the first Black woman to appear on the cover of the French edition of Elle magazine. 

A champion for diversity in the fashion industry, Beverly Johnson used her platform to call out and spread awareness of the continued racial imbalance within the fashion industry.

Best known for his trademark twist on classic tailoring and bespoke styles, London born to Ghananin parents, at 28, Oswald Boateng was the youngest tailor to set up shop on London’s prestigious Savile Row. Balancing traditional British tailoring with modern design and a colour palette informed by his Ghanaian heritage, the award-winning designer would break ground by taking the reins as Creative Director for French luxury house Givenchy in 2003. 

Dressing everyone from Will Smith to the cast of Matrix Reloaded, Oswald Boateng’s contribution to the fashion industry is nothing short of incredible.

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The first and only Black Editor-in-Chief of any of the Vogue publications, Edward Enninful sits in a league of his own when it comes to influential people in the fashion industry. Standing on the foundation set by Andre Leon Talley, the Ghananian-born Enninful cut his teeth as the youngest ever fashion director of an international publication when he took the reins as fashion director of i-D magazine at eighteen years old. He would later bring cultural relevance to W magazine as its Fashion Editor before heading to Vogue US and Vogue Italia as a contributing editor. 

Now serving as the Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue, Enninful has certainly made his mark as one of the fashion industry’s most powerful and influential people.

The trojan horse for a whole new generation of black creatives, not only in fashion but throughout contemporary culture, Virgil Abloh was a titan of the youth. One of the pioneers of the bridging the intersection of streetwear and luxury, Abloh cut his teeth as the Creative Director for Kanye West before going on to found his own label, Pyrex Vision which would later become Off-White. Constantly infusing elements of streetwear culture with luxury aesthetics, through his tenacity and his quotation marks, Virgil Abloh would make history by becoming the first Black American designer to head up a French luxury brand when took over as Louis Vuitton Men’s Artistic Director.

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The first and only Black Editor-in-Chief of any of the Vogue publications, Edward Enninful sits in a league of his own when it comes to influential people in the fashion industry. Standing on the foundation set by Andre Leon Talley, the Ghananian-born Enninful cut his teeth as the youngest ever fashion director of an international publication when he took the reins as fashion director of i-D magazine at eighteen years old. He would later bring cultural relevance to W magazine as its Fashion Editor before heading to Vogue US and Vogue Italia as a contributing editor. 

Now serving as the Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue, Enninful has certainly made his mark as one of the fashion industry’s most powerful and influential people.

Sierra Leoneon born but raised in the Gambia, Ibrahim Kamara has taken the fashion scene by a storm thanks to his non conventional approach to menswear styling. A Central Saint Martins alumni, Kamara’s CV is packed with heavy names and titles, having provided his distinctive styling and art direction for the likes of Stella McCartney, Virgil Abloh’s Louis Vuitton Mens and Dior, the envelope pushing stylist has served as the Editor in Chief of Dazed  before being tipped to take the helm as Image Director for Virgil’s Abloh’s Off-White.

Using a unique African aesthetic, Kamara’s work explores the idea of masculinity and menswear.

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The designer not around to challenge how we think about race and fashion, Kerby Jean-Raymond is the politically charged designer who blending luxury design and politics, seamlessly. A provocative designer with a knack for rebellion and risk taking, the Pyer Moss founder and creative director is constantly upping the ante with exquisite craftsmanship with commentary on the shared black experience.

The first Black American to present a collection at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week, Kerby Jean-Raymond is using fashion to open doors for black creatives, not just in luxury fashion but in art, film and politics.

Heralded as one of the most powerful celebrity stylists, Law Roach is undeniably one of the most sought after stylists in fashion right now. Constantly transforming celebrities from fashion onlookers to fashion icons, the stylist who is formally known by his IG handle ‘luxurylaw’ is responsible for catapulting Zandaya into fashion’s history books, transforming Céline Dion into a fashion icon and kitting out F1 Champion Lewis Hamilton in Bianca Saunders.

The biggest African American stylist in the fashion game, constantly turning red carpets into political campaigns, Law, who would rather be referred to as an ‘image architect’ instead of ‘stylist’ was voted as the number twelve Most Powerful Stylist in the Hollywood Reporter’s list.

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