Sadiq Khan has spoken candidly about the discrimination he’s faced, his fears for Brexit and why he never wants to be Prime Minister as he stars on the glossy pages of the historic new Vogue.
The London mayor, 47, who grew up in a council house in Tooting, poses alongside supermodel Naomi Campbell in a striking black and white portrait in the December issue.
Interviewed by Naomi, Sadiq shared his fears for post-Brexit Britain and the impact it could have on the fashion industry. He also revealed that he doesn’t want to be Prime Minister because he has ‘the best job in the world’.
In a candid dialogue, the pair discuss how London has changed since they grew up in the 1970s and admit that the institutional racism they faced drove them to succeed.
Sadiq Khan is one of the stars of the new British Vogue and poses alongside supermodel Naomi Campbell, who also interviewed him about the discrimination he’s faced, his fears for Brexit and why he never wants to be Prime Minister
The dapper politician began the interview by discussing his childhood, which he admits ‘wasn’t easy’, but reveals he and his friends would defend each other ‘no matter what’.
He also admitted that he and his brothers took boxing lessons after quickly realising they needed to learn to defend themselves and divulged that he joined the Labour party because he was an ‘angry young man’.
Sadiq explained that one of his greatest concerns about the country choosing to leave the EU is the obstacles put in the way of talent coming to the UK – because talent is the secret of every great city in the world.
‘One of the things I try to explain to the British government is this: even if you don’t understand the reason fashion and culture is important to the city we live in, there’s an economic case for it,’ he explained.
‘One in six jobs in London is in the creative industries. And you know what the biggest part of the creative industries is? Fashion. It contributes tens of billions of pounds to our economy. You don’t want to create a situation where talented people feel that the only way to fulfill their potential is by leaving. Or for talented people overseas to not want to come here.’
Sadiq explained that one of his greatest concerns about the country choosing to leave the EU is the obstacles put in the way of talent coming to the UK
Naomi also quizzed Sadiq on why he has been such a vocal advocate for the LGBT+ community, an ally to women and dedicated so much of his energy to supporting those causes.
He said: ‘I’ve spent my entire adult life fighting discrimination and inequality, but when I became the father of two daughters it power-charged me into doing even more.
‘In London today, the most progressive city in the world, women earn on average 12 per cent less than men. That can’t be right… And as far as the LGBT+ communities are concerned, I think it’s a source of embarrassment that I’m the first ever mayor to walk the entire Pride event in London.’
Sadiq, with his Best Politician award during the GQ Men of the Year Awards 2017, said that even if you don’t understand the reason fashion and culture is important to London, there’s an economic case for it
The cover for the December issue of British Vogue was unveiled last night and marks the dawn of a diverse new era in the fashion world.
The highly-anticipated edition is the first under new editor Edward Enninful, who took over from Alexandra Shulman when she left the post in August after 25 years.
The striking cover, which was revealed on Tuesday night, features a close-up of Ghanaian-British model Adwoa Aboah in bright blue eye-shadow and a headscarf.
Rather than making a nod to fashion and beauty trends, the retro-esque cover makes reference to a roll call of power players in politics and the arts, including the likes of Zadie Smith, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, rapper Skepta and Salman Rushdie.
New era: The cover for the December issue of British Vogue was unveiled on Tuesday. It features British-Ghan model Adwoa Aboah and is the first to be edited by Edward Enninful
Taking the helm: The highly-anticipated edition is the first under Enninful, pictured last month, who took over from Alexandra Shulman when she left the post in August after 25 years
Enninful was said to be planning a ‘posh girl’ exodus, with a view to diversify British Vogue.
The Ghanaian-born former stylist was announced as Shulman’s replacement in April, after she chose to leave the magazine to pursue ‘a different future’.
He is the first black, first male and first gay editor of the magazine, which has been running since 1916.
Adwoa Aboah, 25, poses in a striking retro-feel photograph for the magazine, which goes on sale this Friday.
The model stares into the camera lens wearing glittering eye shadow and red lisptick.
Adwoa, who is of Ghanian descent, wears her hair in a pink headscarf and dons huge silver earrings.
Next to Adwoa’s picture is a list of British icons, from the worlds of fashion, politics, film, television, music and publishing.
When asked about Edward Enninful’s decision to select her for the cover of Enninful’s first issue, she said: ‘My head’s going this big. Being on this cover is the biggest thing that’s happened in my career.
‘There is this newfound love and space for activism within fashion. I never would have dreamt in a million years that I would have young girls coming up to me at Glastonbury or on the streets of LA, New York, London, and telling me how much GurlsTalk or seeing my picture in a magazine means to them, as a woman of colour.
‘I love being a mixed-race woman in 2017. I feel part of something big. There’s this understanding that we’re all in it together’
Respected: Alexandra Shulman edited British Vogue for 25 years before stepping down
The company teased the cover on Sunday with a trailer featuring behind-the-scenes clips from upcoming fashion shoots as well as words from Enninful himself.
The clip drove fashion fans wild, with many saying they couldn’t wait to go out and buy the new issue.
Enninful’s first cover looks very different to Shulman’s last issue, which hit shelves in August.
The September issue was themed around Vogue’s ‘past, present and future’, and featured models Nora Attal, Edie Campbell, Jean Campbell, Kate Moss and Stella Tennant.
Enninful received an OBE in 2016 for services to diversify within the fashion industry. Enninful is close friends with Naomi Campbell, who he has given a role as contributing editor
Enninful, who grew up in London as one of six children, was scouted as a model age 16 and has gone on to become one of the most famous faces in fashion, counting Naomi Campbell as a best friend. He has a penchant for partying and is regularly seen at the hottest fashion events.
The journalist was the youngest-ever fashion director for i-D magazine age 16 and has worked for Italian and American Vogue, and served as a consultant on major fashion campaigns, including Calvin Klein, Christian Dior and Dolce and Gabbana.
At the helm of W Magazine, he boosted ad pages by 16 percent in 2012.
The new editor, whose mother was a seamstress, was honoured at the British Fashion Awards in 2014 with the prestigious Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator, and he also won an OBE in 2016 for services to diversity within the fashion industry.
Models, and close friends to Enninful, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss have both been given roles at Vogue as contributing editors.
See the full shoot in the December issue of British Vogue, on sale Friday