Edward Enninful on Leaving British Vogue, Anna Wintour, and Fashion's 'Anti-Woke' Moment

Departure from British Vogue

• 💡 Edward Enninful states that his departure from British Vogue was his decision, lasting six years instead of his initial five-year plan.
• 🚀 He felt his work in changing the industry concerning diversity was complete, citing increased representation of women of color on September covers.
• 🤝 Enninful clarified that his relationship with Anna Wintour remained supportive, with Wintour offering to help find a successor and suggesting he continue working with her.
• ⚠️ He addressed reports that he was forced out due to Wintour crushing potential successors, stating this was "not at all" true.

Fashion Industry Trends

• 🎯 Enninful expresses concern that the fashion industry might be reverting to a narrow, Eurocentric beauty norm where being European and super-thin is once again the standard.
• 🔄 He acknowledges the industry is in flux with designers moving between houses, but sees the current moment as an opportunity to shape the industry.
• 🗣️ He believes the rise of "anti-woke" and anti-diversity rhetoric is a significant cultural moment, where anything deviating from the perceived norm is seen as wrong.

The Sydney Sweeney Controversy

• 💬 Enninful discussed the Sydney Sweeney jeans advert, noting Sweeney's current "it girl" status and finding the initial idea of the campaign good.
• 🤔 Upon reading the messaging, he felt it was a case of "anything goes" and that people might be reading too much into it, though he acknowledged a blonde woman discussing jeans could be triggering for some.
• ⚖️ He observed that society is living in "safe times" where people are careful about what they say, leading to a divided population.

New Ventures and Future

• ✨ Enninful has co-founded a new media business called EE72.
• 🎤 He chose to speak about his departure and industry insights on Amol Rajan's podcast, "Radical," feeling it was the right time to share his perspective.