ESSENCE Fashion House is an annual event that showcases the nexus of styling, tradition, and prediction, bringing together the industry’s foremost Black voices. It’s often said that Black people are ahead of the curve when it comes to the mainstream industry, and perhaps no one knows this better than the stylists who bring their curatorial perspective to highly visible locations on celebrities, runways, and media. At the forefront of this creative transition is renowned fashion architect Misa Hylton. In her 33 years in the fashion industry, she has compiled an undisputed timeline of wardrobe moments that set the tone for some of the most enduring hallmarks of modern American style, many of which originated in urban communities once excluded from the fashion industry.
As a pioneer of streetwear and urban apparel trends, Misa Hilton witnessed in real time how style originating in the Black community transitioned from a despised fashion subculture to a hallmark that powers the luxury apparel industry market today. Most commonly seen in the visual branding of musicians such as Jodeci, Lil’ Kim, and Mary J. Blige, Hilton’s styling work elevated the predominantly Black and often overlooked aesthetic of uptown New York to the mainstream. In doing so, she translated the Black community’s fashion codes, mixing luxury and streetwear, into a bold artistic expression.
This approach wasn’t just about clothing, it was about identity, power and the rejection of societal constraints. Nandi Howard, senior content director and vice president of content at ESSENCE Venture, approached this trajectory for one of the magazine’s first editorial features, writing about Hilton’s career in 2019.
At this year’s Fashion House, Howard looked back on the life and work of the industry pioneer in an intimate conversation about the anatomy of hype, fashion fame, and reclaiming power in the creative field.Today, Misa Hylton has been in the fashion industry for more than three decades, an uncharted career, and along the way, she’s learned valuable lessons about how to maintain an artistic voice while still making money in an exploitative business.
This lovable titan takes pride in sharing her hard-earned knowledge with the next generation of stylists through her Misa Hilton Fashion Academy in New York City. She explained during the discussion that while teaching industry skills, she always keeps in mind the unique mentorship needs that underrepresented fashion professionals may face. A culturally sensitive approach to mentoring, which is already in short supply in the fashion industry, allows a new generation of talent to shape their professional outlook while maintaining their credibility in a competitive marketplace.