Chic and In Charge: 10 African-American Fashion Executives - Page 10

A pretty face and a gorgeous design aren’t the only way to make a mark in fashion.  As an endless array of behind the scenes shows has shown us, there’s always an army holding up the elaborate apparatus of creative endeavor.  The Atlanta Post has rounded up 10 blacks who play key though background roles in the industry.  From  Pullitzer prize-winning journalist Robin Givhan to automotive executive turned panty pusher, Richard Dent III, it’s an interesting mix of professionals working to move fashion forward.

June Haynes

You might say that retail was in June Haynes’ rearing — as a young girl in Guyana she worked in her mother’s haberdashery.  Transplanted to New York she studied fashion buying and merchandising at FIT.  She got her big break when Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbano, having tapped her on a Barney’s sales floor, tapped her to manage their first U.S. boutique.  Haynes eventually oversaw all North American stores, a position that prepared her for her current and most demanding job: since 2003 she’s been senior vice president for retail at Valentino.

Constance White

Constance White has been on the style beat for years, filing copy at the New York Times, serving as fashion editor at Elle and penning a book on black contributions to the field, Stlyenoir.   She joined eBay as style director, the chief challenge of which had to be convincing people that her employer had a place at the fashion table.  Appointed editor-in-chief of Essence in March, that’s no longer an issue.  The job opened up when Angela Burt Murray, having run afoul of readers with the appointment of a white fashion director, stepped down.

Edward Enninful

Spotted on the London tube Edward Enninful got his start in the industry as a model.  A few years later at the age of 18 he was named creative director for i-D, one of the most influential magazines in Britain.  Over the years while holding down those duties and with his brother acting as agent, Enninful has offered his services a la carte to designers and publications like Donatella Versace and Vogue.  Be it mounting a fashion show or overseeing an advertising campaign, they know he’ll do an impeccable job.  But that work may be put on hold as he settles into his latest job.  As of April he’s the fashion and style director for W magazine.

Richard Dent III

Richard Dent III never intended to be a panty pusher, at least not professionally.  The chief operating officer of Victoria Secret PINK got his start in cars, first at Ford, and eventually as the controller for Volvo Trucks.  When that division was dissolved he looked beyond the automotive industry, doing several jobs at Limited Brands before being invited to join the PINK team in 2005.  In just a few short years his acumen for monetizing ideas has helped the fledgling property reach its billion dollar potential.  His influence extends beyond the bottom line, however.  A line of HBCU gear is evidence that diversity in the boardroom leads to tangible results.

Desiree Rogers

Long before Desiree Rogers was named CEO of Johnson Publishing Company, owner of Ebony, Jet and Fashion Fair, she was making fashion headlines.  As White House social secretary the Harvard MBA and former corporate executive had the chattering classes rumbling over her fraternization with fashion and entertainment titans.  Her reign came to an early end in 2009 when a pair of celebrity wannabes crashed a state dinner, prompting her resignation.  She’s coming up on a one year anniversary at Johnson this August, and although she’s treated Ebony to a makeover and generated positive buzz, people are still waiting to see if Rogers can truly revive the glamour and status the company once enjoyed.

June Horne

Remember when you first heard of a buyer?  The mind moved quickly from, ‘You can get paid for shopping?’ to ‘How can I be down?’.   But if everyone could do it it’d hardly be a profession.  When it comes to black women holding down that particular hustle, June Horne is a leader.  Since the early 70’s she’s been with Saks 5^th Avenue.  Rising through the ranks she currently serves as a senior buyer.  That means a front row seat at shows from here to Europe and a closet full of envy.

Robin Givhan

While Michelle Obama is the reigning queen of fashion in Washington, Robin Givhan gives her a run for the money.  Ever glamorous her greatest flourishes come not by way of dressing up, but sitting down to write.  In 2006 she became the first journalist to ever take home a Pulitzer for fashion writing.  Last year she moved her byline from the Washingot Post to Newsweek and The Daily Beast.  As special correspondent for style and culture she serves up witty insights into what clothing says about our civilization, or lack thereof.

Andre Leon Talley

When your first job is serving as an assistant to Andy Warhol life is bound to unfold on a grand scale.   Since 1983 Andre Leon Talley’s name has been synonymous with Vogue, having done everything from overseeing the news department to serving as editor-at-large.  In 2010 he started moonlighting as a judge on “America’s Next Top Model”.  TV loves this man.  A larger than life personality with a wardrobe to match (think a surplus of capes) it’s surprising that it took Talley so long to find his way to the screen.

Audrey Smaltz

There’s a lot of care that goes into pulling off a flawless fashion show Audrey Smaltz learned while travelling the country and coordinating Ebony Fashion Fair.  In 1977 employment gave way to entrepreneurship as she opened a firm to support designers in showcasing their work, doing everything from last-minute tailoring to hiring staff to stand-in for models.  Today The Ground Crew is a well-regarded name in fashion, counting Calvin Klein, Donna Karan and Armani among its clientele.