Edward Enninful
Encyclopedia
Edward Enninful is a British fashion stylist, and current Fashion and Style-Director of W
magazine.
, but at a very young age, moved to Ladbroke Grove
, London
, along with his parents and six siblings. His mother worked as a seamstress, and inspired him with the vividly patterned colors and fabrics she used while creating clothing for her British-Ghanaian friends.
At the age of 16, Enninful was spotted on the train by stylist Simon Foxton. “I was 16 and I had no idea who Simon Foxton was,” he said in an interview for Telegraph Magazine. “About two weeks later I was stopped again, this time by a model scout. When I told her that I’d already been approached by Simon Foxton, she told me how amazing he was and weeks later I was shooting with him at his house, along with Nick Knight
, a founder-photographer of i-D.”
Enninful described his brief career modeling as his “baptism into fashion.” By the age of 17, he had been introduced to Trish and Terry Jones
, founder of i-D
magazine, and soon began assisting i-D fashion director Beth Summers. He finished college, earning a degree at Goldsmiths, University of London (“Barely, but otherwise my dad would have killed me.”) while juggling his modeling career and assisting on shoots with Foxton and Summers. Summers left the magazine a few weeks after Enninful’s 18th birthday, and Terry Jones gave Enninful the position.
made him the youngest ever fashion director for an international publication. Soon, he became known for his edgy elegance, which quickly became his trademark. Much of his inspiration came from the streets. "We British have to customize our clothes, we have to be more creative, informing who you are - and I am still obsessed with the streets." The looks he featured in his stories helped fuel the grunge
movement during the early ‘90s.
By age 22, he worked for Calvin Klein on their advertising with Craig McDean
and close friend, makeup artist Pat McGrath
.
In 1998, Enninful became a contributing editor to Italian Vogue.
According to him, working with Vogue Italia
editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani
and photographer Steven Meisel
propelled him to mature as a stylist. “I always say that I was a London stylist but when I worked with Steven, I became a proper stylist.”
At Italian Vogue, he spearheaded the production of its “Black Issue” which featured only black models, including Naomi Campbell
, Jourdan Dunn
and Alek Wek
. He described his intention as ending the “white-out that dominates the catwalks and magazines.” The issue was so successful that Conde’ Nast had to print an extra 40,000 copies.
In 2006, Enninful became contributing fashion editor for American Vogue
. He can be seen in the documentary “The September Issue
.”
In addition to his editorial work, Enninful has consulted for numberous advertising campaigns and runway shows, including Comme des Garçons
, Christian Dior
, Dolce and Gabbana, Celine
, Lanvin
, Mulberry
, Giorgio Armani
, Valentino
, Jil Sander
, Calvin Klein
, Fendi
, Alessandro Dell’Acqua, Gap
, Hugo Boss
, Missoni
and H&M
.
It was announced in April 2011 that Enninful would be taking over as fashion and style-director of W
, a position formally held by Alex White. He stated in an interview to WWD, “Now I’m going to be focusing my editorial prowess on W,” ending his 10 year relationship as a freelancer with American and Italian Vogue.
W (magazine)
W is a monthly American fashion magazine published by Condé Nast Publications, who purchased original owner Fairchild Publications in 1999. It was created in 1971 by the publisher of sister magazine Woman's Wear Daily, James Brady. The magazine is an oversize format – ten inches wide and...
magazine.
Early life
Edward Enninful was born in GhanaGhana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, but at a very young age, moved to Ladbroke Grove
Ladbroke Grove
Ladbroke Grove is a road in west London, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is also sometimes the name given informally to the immediate area surrounding the road. Running from Notting Hill in the south to Kensal Green in the north, it is located in North Kensington and straddles...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, along with his parents and six siblings. His mother worked as a seamstress, and inspired him with the vividly patterned colors and fabrics she used while creating clothing for her British-Ghanaian friends.
At the age of 16, Enninful was spotted on the train by stylist Simon Foxton. “I was 16 and I had no idea who Simon Foxton was,” he said in an interview for Telegraph Magazine. “About two weeks later I was stopped again, this time by a model scout. When I told her that I’d already been approached by Simon Foxton, she told me how amazing he was and weeks later I was shooting with him at his house, along with Nick Knight
Nick Knight (photographer)
Nick Knight OBE is a British fashion photographer, documentary photographer, and web publisher—as director of SHOWstudio.com.-Life and career:Knight studied at Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design....
, a founder-photographer of i-D.”
Enninful described his brief career modeling as his “baptism into fashion.” By the age of 17, he had been introduced to Trish and Terry Jones
Terry Jones
Terence Graham Parry Jones is a Welsh comedian, screenwriter, actor, film director, children's author, popular historian, political commentator, and TV documentary host. He is best known as a member of the Monty Python comedy team....
, founder of i-D
I-D
i-D is a British magazine dedicated to fashion, music, art and youth culture. i-D was founded by designer and former Vogue art director Terry Jones in 1980. The first issue was published in the form of a hand-stapled fanzine with text produced on a typewriter...
magazine, and soon began assisting i-D fashion director Beth Summers. He finished college, earning a degree at Goldsmiths, University of London (“Barely, but otherwise my dad would have killed me.”) while juggling his modeling career and assisting on shoots with Foxton and Summers. Summers left the magazine a few weeks after Enninful’s 18th birthday, and Terry Jones gave Enninful the position.
Career
At the age of 18, Enninful’s position as Fashion Director at i-DI-D
i-D is a British magazine dedicated to fashion, music, art and youth culture. i-D was founded by designer and former Vogue art director Terry Jones in 1980. The first issue was published in the form of a hand-stapled fanzine with text produced on a typewriter...
made him the youngest ever fashion director for an international publication. Soon, he became known for his edgy elegance, which quickly became his trademark. Much of his inspiration came from the streets. "We British have to customize our clothes, we have to be more creative, informing who you are - and I am still obsessed with the streets." The looks he featured in his stories helped fuel the grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
movement during the early ‘90s.
By age 22, he worked for Calvin Klein on their advertising with Craig McDean
Craig McDean
Craig McDean is a British fashion photographer originally from Middlewich near Manchester, but now based in New York City....
and close friend, makeup artist Pat McGrath
Pat McGrath
Pat McGrath is a British make-up artist. She has been called the most influential make-up artist in the world by Vogue magazine and other commentators.-Biography:...
.
In 1998, Enninful became a contributing editor to Italian Vogue.
According to him, working with Vogue Italia
Vogue Italia
Vogue Italia is the Italian edition of Vogue magazine. Owned by Condé Nast International, it is the least commercial of all editions of Vogue magazine and has been called the top fashion magazine in the world....
editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani
Franca Sozzani
Franca Sozzani is an Italian journalist and the editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia since 1988.Franca has been at the forefront of Fashion since the beginning of her career. Sozzani started her career at Vogue Bambini and directed legendary publications LEI since 1980 and PER LUI since 1982 before...
and photographer Steven Meisel
Steven Meisel
Steven Meisel is an American photographer, who obtained popular acclaim with his work in US and Italian Vogue and his photographs of friend Madonna in her 1992 book Sex...
propelled him to mature as a stylist. “I always say that I was a London stylist but when I worked with Steven, I became a proper stylist.”
At Italian Vogue, he spearheaded the production of its “Black Issue” which featured only black models, including Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell is a British model. Scouted at the age of 15, she established herself among the top three most recognisable and in-demand models of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and she was one of six models of her generation declared "supermodels" by the fashion world...
, Jourdan Dunn
Jourdan Dunn
Jourdan Dunn is a British fashion model. She was discovered in Hammersmith Primark in 2006 and signed to Storm Management in London shortly thereafter. In 2008, she was the first black model to walk a Prada runway in over a decade...
and Alek Wek
Alek Wek
Alek Wek is a Sudanese British model who first appeared on the catwalks at the age of 18 in 1995, sparking a career lasting to date. She is from the Dinka ethnic group in South Sudan, but in 1991 she and some family members fled to Britain to escape the civil war in Sudan...
. He described his intention as ending the “white-out that dominates the catwalks and magazines.” The issue was so successful that Conde’ Nast had to print an extra 40,000 copies.
In 2006, Enninful became contributing fashion editor for American Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
. He can be seen in the documentary “The September Issue
The September Issue
The September Issue is a 2009 American documentary film about the behind-the-scenes drama that follows editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and her staff during the production of the September 2007 issue of American Vogue magazine. The film is directed by R.J. Cutler and produced by Eliza Hindmarch and...
.”
In addition to his editorial work, Enninful has consulted for numberous advertising campaigns and runway shows, including Comme des Garçons
Comme des Garçons
Comme des Garçons, written コム・デ・ギャルソン in Japanese and French for "Like Boys," is a Japanese fashion label headed by Rei Kawakubo, who owns the company with her husband Adrian Joffe....
, Christian Dior
Christian Dior
Christian Dior , was a French fashion designer, best known as the founder of one of the world's top fashion houses, also called Christian Dior.-Life:...
, Dolce and Gabbana, Celine
Celine
- People with the family name Celine :* Louis-Ferdinand Céline, pen name of French author Louis-Ferdinand Destouches- People with the given name Celine :* Céline Dion, , French-Canadian pop singer.* Celine Helgemo, Norwegian singer...
, Lanvin
Lanvin
Lanvin may refer to:* Gérard Lanvin , French actor* Jeanne Lanvin , French fashion designer* Lanvin , French fashion house founded by Jeanne Lanvin...
, Mulberry
Mulberry
Morus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Moraceae. The 10–16 species of deciduous trees it contains are commonly known as Mulberries....
, Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani is an Italian fashion designer, particularly noted for his menswear. He is known today for his clean, tailored lines. He formed his company, Armani, in 1975, and by 2001 was acclaimed as the most successful designer to come out of Italy, with an annual turnover of $1.6 billion and a...
, Valentino
Valentino
Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani , best known as Valentino, is an Italian fashion designer and founder of the Valentino SpA brand and company. His main lines were Valentino, Valentino Garavani, Valentino Roma, and R.E.D...
, Jil Sander
Jil Sander
Heidemarie Jiline 'Jil' Sander is a minimalist German fashion designer and the founder of the Jil Sander fashion house....
, Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
, Fendi
Fendi
Fendi is an Italian high fashion house best known for its "baguette" handbags. It was launched in 1925 as a fur and leather shop in Rome, but today is a multinational luxury goods brand owned by LVMH...
, Alessandro Dell’Acqua, Gap
Gap
-General:* Gap , a spacing between large trees in a forest* Gap , a mountain pass, often carved by a river* Gap year, a prolonged period between a life stage-Places:* Gap, Hautes-Alpes, France* Gap, Pennsylvania, United States...
, Hugo Boss
Hugo Boss
Hugo Ferdinand Boss was the founder of clothing company Hugo Boss.-Early life:Boss was born in Metzingen, Germany. After completing his apprenticeship and one year of employment, he founded his own company in Metzingen in 1923.-Support of Nazism:Boss joined the Nazi Party in 1931, two years before...
, Missoni
Missoni
Missoni is an Italian fashion house based in Varese. It is famous for its unique knitwear, made from a variety of fabrics in colourful patterns. The company was founded by Ottavio and Rosita Missoni in 1953.-Brands:...
and H&M
H&M
H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB is a Swedish retail-clothing company, known for its fast-fashion clothing offerings for women, men, teenagers and children....
.
It was announced in April 2011 that Enninful would be taking over as fashion and style-director of W
W (magazine)
W is a monthly American fashion magazine published by Condé Nast Publications, who purchased original owner Fairchild Publications in 1999. It was created in 1971 by the publisher of sister magazine Woman's Wear Daily, James Brady. The magazine is an oversize format – ten inches wide and...
, a position formally held by Alex White. He stated in an interview to WWD, “Now I’m going to be focusing my editorial prowess on W,” ending his 10 year relationship as a freelancer with American and Italian Vogue.