British Vogue editor Edward Enninful has said working on the latest edition that features five disabled cover stars has been “one of the proudest moments of my career”.
The May issue of the fashion magazine focuses on the stories of 19 disabled people – five of them appearing on five different covers.
They include actress Selma Blair, who has multiple sclerosis, and models Ellie Goldstein – who has Down’s syndrome – and Aaron Rose Philip. Sign language performer Justina Miles and Sinéad Burke, who runs accessibility consultancy Tilting the Lens, also star.
Enninful, 51, who has visual and hearing impairments and a blood disorder himself, said he had “learned so much” from producing the issue, which is called Reframing Fashion: Dynamic, Daring and Disabled.
“My tenure here at Vogue has always been about inclusivity and diversity, and people forget how hard it is for the disabled community,” Enninful told the BBC.
Speaking about his impairments, he added: “It was so important I could relate – I felt real pride that people can actually speak up about disabilities and not have to hide it and how it impacts them.
“I think this is one of the most incredible issues I’ve had the privilege of editing in my tenure.”
Enninful took the top job at British Vogue in 2017 after working at fashion magazine i-D for two decades. He became European editorial director of Vogue in 2020.
He said the experience of producing the May issue had made him reflect on how Vogue could be a more inclusive workplace.
“We want to carry this on and for people to see Vogue is taking that step... We’re not perfect, but we have to create this welcoming space,” he said.
A braille version of the issue will also be available from May 5.
In an essay introducing the issue, Enninful said: “Making this issue was a necessary and overdue education for all – and taught us many lessons we will carry forward into the future. Ultimately, these covers and portfolio ask a question: we all engage with fashion, but does fashion engage with all of us?”
“Dynamism of spirit, of talent, of imagination, is what the stars of this issue have in spades.
“It is this quality that the industry – and here I include Vogue – must also lean into if it is to better serve the disabled community, alongside the disabled community; with jobs, in the design of retail spaces, of photography studios, of digital interfaces, events, communications and, of course, clothes.”
