How Zendaya Is Helping Black Creators

August 10, 2020

Instyle magazine debuted their September issue last Thursday, featuring Zendaya on the cover. For the first time ever in the magazine’s history, the entire production was brought to life by a team of all Black creators. 

From the earrings to the shoes and everything else in between and around was exclusively designed by a Black creator. The shoot was photographed by two young Black photographers, Ahmad Barber and Donté Maurice and styled by Zendaya’s longtime stylist Law Roach. Clothing designers feature Jason Rembert, Christopher John Rogers, Anifa Mvuemba, Kerby Jean-Raymond and Carly Cushnie. 

Zendaya wears all black designers on the cover of InStyle's September issue https://t.co/uYGMIVfDJf pic.twitter.com/eSFIn6PEgl

— New York Post (@nypost) August 6, 2020

Zendaya commented to InStyle that she has worked with Black clothing, hair and makeup stylists before, but had not gotten the chance to work with many Black photographers. 

She hopes this shoot encourages people to buy from Black designers, saying that “there are also so many Black designers people don’t know about, so having the opportunity where they can be in InStyle and get the love they deserve is really special.” 

The issue features an interview between Zendaya and Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Movement. The September print issue of Instyle magazine will be available August 21st on newsstands and for digital download. 

While Zendaya doesn’t claim to be “an activist at all,” the photographers she worked with her gave her lots of praise for allowing them a chance to be seen.

If you know @theahmadbarber and I you know how much we’ve dreamed of working with Zendaya. This was really a God given dream come true for AB+DM here’s @Zendaya for the September issue of @InStyle we love you @LUXURYLAW for loving, challenging and championing us pic.twitter.com/URreKolnnp

— Donté (@dontemaurice) August 6, 2020

And Zendaya tweeted back thanking them for their talent. Don’t you just love to see celebrity kindness?!

Thank you for your talents, it was so special to work with you both https://t.co/sCVBgNhyhL

— Zendaya (@Zendaya) August 7, 2020

She also thanked everyone on her Instagram and shouted out everyone who contributed to the photoshoot.

The overall sentiment of the whole shoot was very special, and highlights the greatness of what can be achieved when people are allowed a chance to shine. 

Zendaya used an all Black creative team and wore all Black designers for her InStyle cover shoot. Law Roach, her stylist and the shoot’s creative director, said: “Look at the magic we can create when someone gives us the opportunity” https://t.co/s9stWXRHhR pic.twitter.com/zmJYjGhZji

— Dionne Grant (@DionneGrant) August 10, 2020

It’s pretty crazy that this is the first time InStyle had an all-Black-produced cover, but progress is progress and we can only hope the fashion industry continues to feature Black creators regularly. Props to Zendaya and her team for spearheading this so gracefully.