STYLIST AND CREATIVE CONSULTANT MARIAN KWEI

Marian Kwei: Stylist, Creative Consultant, and Trailblazer | Antakly Projects
Antakly Projects  ·  Interview by Leila Antakly
MARIAN
KWEI Stylist  ·  Creative Consultant  ·  Trailblazer
Gambia  ·  Ghana  ·  Nigeria  ·  London
Marian Kwei — stylist and creative consultant
Photo: Hannan Saleh
Celebrity Stylist Digital Magazine Editor Vogue  ·  Forbes  ·  NYT British Journal of Photography 2024 Channel 4  ·  New Model Agency 2024 Gambia  ·  Ghana Berkshire, UK

Born in The Gambia to parents of Ghanaian heritage, raised across Berkshire, Nigeria, Ghana, and The Gambia, Marian Kwei's mastery of structure, colour, and cultural assimilation is not an aesthetic choice. It is a biography. Her influence on fashion has been likened to the influence Africa had on the work of Picasso, Christian Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent.

The person

Marian Kwei (formerly Marian Kihogo) has made history more than once. She was the first Black person to grace the first major magazine cover starring social media icons. As UK Editor of Dirrty Glam, one of the first major digital fashion publications, she helped shape the face of digital media, with celebrity covers spanning Sienna Miller, Emma Watson, Lily Allen, and Kristin Cavallari. She was the first Black social media icon to collaborate with varying high fashion and luxury brands. She has been featured by Vogue, Forbes, the New York Times, and E! News.

A 2024 recipient of the penultimate UK photography award, the British Journal of Photography's Portrait of Britain Award, she was also involved in Channel 4's 2024 TV series New Model Agency, centred on Zebedee Talent, an agency driving the inclusion revolution in fashion. She has since starred on major magazine covers including InStyle. She consults to brands globally and as a fashion and style expert has commented on fashion, style, and royal style for leading titles and media.

  1. UK Editor, Dirrty Glam — the first major digital fashion publication
  2. British Journal of Photography  ·  Portrait of Britain Award 2024
  3. Channel 4  ·  New Model Agency 2024
  4. InStyle Magazine cover  ·  2024
  5. Featured by Vogue, Forbes, New York Times, E! News
  6. Listed in penultimate best dressed lists in the world

"Fashion is what is sold. Style is how you wear it."

Marian Kwei
The conversation
Antakly What are your greatest inspirations or influences?

Marian Kwei Travel, people, architecture, Africa, culture, design, the 1920s, Cristobal Balenciaga, the 1970s, art.

Fashion icons

My icons are those who are true to their style, fearlessly.

Grace Jones
Talitha Getty
Tina Chow
Donyale Luna
Jane Birkin
Charlotte Rampling
Dream projects
Antakly What would be a dream project?

Marian Kwei To collaborate with the likes of Prada or Balenciaga. To style Yara Shahidi and Zendaya.

Favourite reading and accounts

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