This site is part of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 3099067.

Informa logo
Attend Our EventsApply To Exhibit
Attend Our EventsApply To Exhibit

EDWARD BUCHANAN

Designer & Creative Director

Classically trained fashion designer and Parson School Alumni, Ohio-born Edward Buchanan oversees creative direction for his knitwear company, Sansovino6 in addition to running a full design service consulting business specializing in knitwear.

Having lent vision to companies such as OFF-WHITE and Emilio Pucci, Edward also currently teaches a Master's course in Knitwear and serves as the Milan fashion director of UK-based, Perfect magazine.

Contributor: Adam Katz Sinding

fashion Model
fashion Model

AS SOMEONE WHO WEARS MANY HATS I'M SURE THERE ARE MULTIPLE PATHS YOU COULD HAVE TAKEN TO GET YOUR START IN THE INDUSTRY. WHAT DREW YOU TO FASHION?

I studied fine art and art history prior to moving to NYC to study fashion design at Parsons School of Design. My trajectory into design came naturally as I was always surrounded by creativity. My interests have always been focused on craft and creation from the inside out, design just made sense for me.

fashion Model

WHEN YOU SAY YOU WERE “ALWAYS SURROUNDED BY CREATIVITY”, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

My mother was a church pianist, and my family was full of musicians, writers, singers, and guitarists so I grew up singing and playing. I often wonder how I ended up in fashion, but my grandmother was also a seamstress for the church ladies. So, the creative hand and mind was just in my blood I do believe.

IS THERE A PERSON YOU CAN ATTRIBUTE TO HELPING SHAPE YOUR JOURNEY IN AN IMPACTFUL WAY?

Working with Virgil Abloh was very special for me. Our working relationship was built on trust, respect, and building community. It is rare that you find all of these things collectively in a collaboration, or an individual. I was his elder, and that is what was so special about Virgil is that he reached up, down, in-between, and worked with total honesty. Virgil called on me when no one else was hiring me, or creatives with my experience that looked like me, and he wasn’t afraid to say my name.

fashion Model
fashion Model

GIVEN YOUR VAST EXPERIENCE, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE WIDER INDUSTRY HAS EVOLVED?

I’d like to think that the industry is being questioned as to why it is not evolving faster than it has. The vast majority of the luxury houses have white male creative directors which is not evolving. We have dabbled in what size diversity means, and inclusivity in general, but we are still here. It amazes me how we know that the effects of diversity and inclusivity essentially effect corporate revenues, but this industry is still taking baby steps forward.

DO YOU FIND THAT THESE CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THE “RIGHT REASON” OR FOR THE BOTTOM LINE? 
IF THE LATTER, IS THAT AN EVOLUTION? 

Diversity and inclusivity have been used as social media buzz words.

After George Floyd, the fashion industry all stepped forward and put their black boxes on Instagram stating firmly, "we are with you, we support this community".  A few weeks after, they were promoting their white male creative directors and parading out their all-white staff.

The revolution needs to happen, but disadvantaged communities have no other option but to be entrepreneurs and create these spaces on their own. It takes much longer, but when you own it, it cannot be taken away and you can create your own hiring practices and consumers.

fashion Model
fashion Model
fashion Model

BEING MILAN BASED, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU ARE HOPING TO SEE EMERGE WITHIN EUROPEAN FASHION CULTURAL, THAT EVENTUALLY SPREADS GLOBALLY?

I’m hoping that more support for young and independent voices will be made available. This can only happen when those at the top of the totem are willing to release power and allow individuals in that do not look and think as they do.

HAVE YOU NOTICED ANY STEPS BEING TAKEN WHICH MIGHT ALLOW THIS?

Fashion is 360, I’ve seen it all come around and return again. Young independent thinkers are the core of a creative culture. It’s what the institutional houses watch closely, because where do we go without risk? It is survival for these designers, so they have to figure it out without enormous budgets to support their efforts. Diversity within these spaces is a much more complex conversation because it is informed by the systemic racism within the culture that we are educated in.

It starts from the bottom up. We cannot expect change at the top, if we are not teaching it from the bottom.

YOUR MOST PRIZED WARDROBE ITEM AT THE MOMENT?

My staple garment is a grey mélange t-shirt which I have many different brands, but I’m still partial to Hanes. I have no regrets, but I have a wardrobe full of basic cashmere sweaters of my own design that I rotate.

Connect with Edward on Instagram

JOIN OUR SOCIAL COMMUNITY

RELATED CONTENT

MILAN STREET STYLE

MILAN STREET STYLE

As captured by Adam Katz Sinding, explore our favorite looks, where bold colors and subtle elegance graced the streets of Milan the FW 24 season.

GET INSPIRED
NEW YORK CITY STREET STYLE

NEW YORK CITY STREET STYLE

Shot by Adam Katz Sinding we present a curated collection of our favorite street style looks that encapsulate the essence of NYFW.

GET INSPIRED
IMFC INCUBATOR PROGRAM

IMFC INCUBATOR PROGRAM

Take a look back at some of the incredible brands that have been a part of the IMFC Incubator Program since its launch in 2020.

READ NOW

You expressly assume all risks associated with, resulting from or arising in connection with your participation in and/or attendance at the Event.  Informa does not make any warranty as to the Event in general, including, without limitation, in relation to: (a) the benefit or outcome of any sale, interaction or transaction you may have with any exhibitor, sponsor or attendee or (b) the benefit or outcome (commercial or otherwise) that you may achieve as a result of attending the Event. Informa and all entities within the Informa Group (as well as any employees or other representatives of the same) exclude all liability for any loss, injury or damage whatsoever that you may suffer in connection with or arising from the Event whether direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental or punitive loss, injury or damage (including, without limitation, injury or disease to persons, property damage, theft, loss of profits, loss of business, loss of opportunity, loss of goodwill, loss or corruption of data or any other type of economic loss, injury or damage) or otherwise.  For the avoidance of doubt, Informa shall not incur any liability whatsoever for any products displayed or sold by any exhibitor or sponsor at the Event.