Ex-Vogue Chief Sounds Alarm on Fashion's Diversity Backslide

Edward Enninful, the former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, has voiced concerns that the fashion industry is slipping back into old habits when it comes to diversity and beauty standards. He believes that the current trend is moving away from celebrating different body types and backgrounds, and instead is returning to the idea that being thin and European-looking is the ideal. Enninful says that anti-diversity and 'anti-woke' attitudes are becoming more common, and that the fashion world needs to decide what it truly stands for. To help change things, he has launched a new media platform called EE72, which focuses on women over 50 and aims to be more inclusive. The first issue features Julia Roberts, a well-known actress who is 57, on the cover.

Enninful's journey in fashion began when he moved to London from Ghana as an asylum seeker. He became the fashion director of i-D magazine at just 18 years old, and later made history as the first black editor-in-chief of British Vogue. During his time at Vogue, he worked hard to make the magazine more diverse, showing models of different races, sizes, and backgrounds. He believes that the word 'woke' has become controversial, but he insists that appreciating beauty in all its forms is not a bad thing. He wants the fashion industry to keep pushing for more representation and to avoid going back to narrow standards.

Recently, some fashion advertisements have been banned because they featured models who appeared unhealthily thin. This has led experts to worry that the super skinny trend is making a comeback. Enninful describes the fashion industry as being in a state of change, and he is excited to be launching his new project at such a crucial time. EE72 is named after the year he was born, and its goal is to highlight the beauty and style of older women. Enninful also addressed rumors about his departure from Vogue, saying that he left on his own terms and that Anna Wintour, another major figure in fashion, was supportive of his decision. He commented on a recent American Eagle ad featuring Sydney Sweeney, which sparked debate about beauty ideals. Enninful thinks that people are divided on these issues, but he hopes his new magazine will encourage more acceptance and appreciation of different kinds of beauty.