Designer

When I was 18 years old, I moved into Neneh Cherry's house in Kensal Rise with Judy Blame and our friend Michael Boadi.

I'd never seen anything like it in my life. Someone so blatantly challenging the ideas of race and gender and sexuality. In a way, it was comparable to David Bowie, except that Prince brought that to the black community.

There is nothing more classic in the realm of casual than jeans and a white tee - a look that is inherently Americana and reminiscent of the American Dream - an optimistic dream of opportunity, individuality, freedom, and the embodiment of one living their truth.

I can tell you, without diversity, creativity remains stagnant.

I feel like when it comes to the models, certain models are now like commodities in certain ways.

I'm so fascinated by the influence of social media on fashion. I've seen so many artists on Instagram, up and comers you would have never known otherwise.

The funny thing is that the fashions from the '90s seem to sit so well with the fashions of 2016. Everything from then somehow skipped and came back.

I think if you're really good at what you do, you can see outside the box.

When I was really young, I had an afro and wore pressed jeans and argyle sweaters. In my teens, I moved on to ripped Levi's jeans, white T-shirts, and cowboy boots.

I am black in a predominantly white industry, and I have been luckier than most.

I'm very protective of all the vulnerable young kids that go on shoots. I can empathize. I've been there.

For me, fashion succeeds when it says something about the times we live in.

A queen does not wear clothes off the runways.

It was a whole new attitude: no makeup, less is more... the '90s were fun!

Change always takes time.

I grew up reading 'British Vogue' - I am so honoured and humbled to be taking up the mantle of editor.