AS THE Powerlist 2024 celebrated its18th edition during the recent Black History Month, Michael Eboda hailed Edward Enninful OBE for his ‘vision and passion for fashion and diversity’ which ‘has influenced the industry at a global level’.

Eboda, CEO of Powerful Media, publisher of the Powerlist, was speaking in acknowledgement of the Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue and the European editorial director of Condé Nast, being named the UK’s most influential Black person on the annual list of the UK’s most powerful people of African, African Caribbean and African American heritage.

This week it was revealed that Enninful had overseen his last issue of British Vogue in which he announced he was officially stepping down from his role.

Ghanaian-born Enninful began his career as fashion director of British youth culture magazine i-D at age 18, the youngest ever to have been named an editor at a major international fashion title. 

After moving to London with his parents and six siblings at a young age, Enninful was scouted as a model on the train at 16 and briefly modelled for Arena and i-D magazines before assisting stylists Simon Foxton and Beth Summers on fashion shoots.  

During this period, he was introduced to i-D Founder Terry Jones, who named him fashion editor after Summers left. 

Before landing his present role, Enninful had tongues wagging with his work at Italian Vogue, American Vogue and W Magazine.  

Honours and recognition have flowed aplenty during his come up.

Named fashion creator of the year by the British Fashion Council in 2014, he was honoured with an OBE in 2016 for Services to Diversity in the Fashion industry, and in 2018 landed the Media Award by the Council of Fashion Designers America,  

Honoured with an OBE in 2016 for Services to Diversity in the Fashion industry, two years later he was presented with the Media Award by the Council of Fashion Designers America.

Next month’s issue of the British Vogue Magazine, which features 40 cover stars, will be his last.

In his final editor’s letter, Enninful wrote: “So here it is: my 76th and final edition of Vogue, six and a half years and 153 cover stars later, including the 40 legendary women who feature on this cover. It’s been an extraordinary ride and an absolute honour.”

In his salute to Enninful’s career, Eboda, whose Powerlist was done in partnership with J.P. Morgan, said: “Edward’s impact will be felt for generations to come – and for that, I applaud him.”

Sentiments echoed around the whole community.

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