Asylum seeker to fashion maven

A Visible Man

Edward Enninful/Bloomsbury

The memoir from Edward Enninful OBE, the groundbreaking, new-generation editor-in-chief of British Vogue is open-hearted and arrestingly detailed. Written to inspire others to dream big, work hard and draw strength from their own individuality, A Visible Man is the captivating story of how a shy young boy from Ghana conquered and redefined the exclusive realm of fashion.

The book opens with Edward recalling his early childhood home on a military base in Ghana’s capital Accra which overlooked the firing squads where enemies of the state would be executed while he played with his young siblings. It was observing his mother’s dressmaking business that led to him falling in love with tailoring and the art of dressing women. Then, in the 80s, Edward and his family arrived in London as asylum seekers, and were crammed into a small flat in Vauxhall, the floor space filled with mattresses.

Recalling his life as a newcomer, he looks back on discovering the treasures and prejudices of British culture and that fateful day when, as a teenager, he drew the attention of a model scout on the Tube.

Another pivotal moment came when he was appointed the fashion director of i-D magazine at the tender age of 18. In this account, Edward’s boundless passion for the artistry and alchemy of style radiates off the page. He’s also very frank about his battles with drink, weight and health, relationships and his experience as a Black man in a very white industry. Also covered are his relationships with the likes of Naomi, Kate, Rihanna, Grace Coddington and the late, great Alexander McQueen. Energetic, considered and beautifully fashioned. Out now