Bloomsbury lands 'unexpected and inspiring' memoir from Vogue's Enninful

Bloomsbury has acquired A Visible Man by Edward Enninful, a memoir by the first Black editor-in chief of British Vogue and "one of the greatest creative minds of our times".

In his book, Enninful charts his journey into the world of fashion, sharing how, as a Black, gay, working-class refugee, he found a home in fashion, and the freedom to share with people the world as he saw it.

"Written with style, grace and heart, A Visible Man shines a spotlight on the career of one of the greatest creative minds of our times," the synopsis reads. "It is the story of a visionary who changed not only an industry, but how we understand beauty. When Edward Enninful became the first Black editor-in-chief of British Vogue, few in the world of fashion wanted to confront how it failed to represent the world we live in. But Edward, a champion of inclusion throughout his life, rapidly changed that. Now, whether it’s putting first responders, octogenarians or civil rights activists on the cover of Vogue, or championing designers and photographers of colour, Edward Enninful has cemented his status as one of the world’s most important change-makers."

Enninful said: "I think it would be fair to say that since I started working in fashion some 30 years ago, as a 16-year-old model turned fashion editor from west London at the tail end of the 1980s, I have barely paused for breath. There were scores of magazine shoots and era-defining catwalk shows of course, but beyond the artistry and glamour of it all, I always felt like a man on a mission; an outsider who had found his way to the inner sanctum, bringing my own perspective to bear on an industry I loved but wanted to see evolve. And so I worked every hour of every day at breakneck speed.

"Then the world turned on its head. In the last two years, the frantic hustle of fashion slowed a little—and alongside it came a powerful moment of societal change. Suddenly, all the things I had worked so hard to champion in my career—inclusivity, opportunity, beauty in all its forms—felt as if they were top of the agenda. As editor-in-chief of British Vogue and Vogue’s European editorial director, I’ve been extremely blessed with a platform to lead some of those conversations, and so, with a moment of calm to myself, the time has come to tell my own story for the first time.

"I want to share my own experiences from childhood to the offices of Vogue, and show how anyone can make change in the world, with a little passion, perseverance and a pure heart. I’m so excited to bring my upcoming memoir to readers next year. When all is said and done, I just want everyone to feel like no matter where they come from in life or whatever their dream is, they can grasp it. Just like I did."

Alexis Kirschbaum, associate publisher at Bloomsbury, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada and including e-book, from Meredith Miller and Albert Lee at UTA. 

Kirschbaum said: "Edward’s book is so much more than a memoir of his life—though his path has been an unexpected and inspiring one. It’s the characterisation of his creative and social vision, which are one and the same. 

"A gifted storyteller, Enninful has continually disrupted the status quo throughout his career, and shown the world the success that doing so can achieve. He reveals how to unlock extraordinary talent and experience, whether in one’s self or in the broader culture, redefining not only what is desirable but what is essential and inspiring about being human."

In addition to his leadership at British Vogue, Enninful is the European editorial director for Vogue. As a lifelong advocate for diverse voices, he spearheaded "The Black Issue" at Italian Vogue, which featured only Black models. He also became the fashion and style director of W Magazine.

A Visible Man will be published in hardback and e-book on 6th September 2022, by Bloomsbury in the UK and simultaneously around the world by Bloomsbury in Australia, India, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa, and in the US and Canada by Penguin Press. The cover design is still in development and will be released at a later date.