Meet Marian Kwei: Award-Winning Stylist and Digital Media Pioneer

Meet Marian Kwei, formerly known as Marian Kihogo, an award-winning London-based stylist, brand consultant, editorial and creative director, and a recognized expert in fashion and royal style. With features in prestigious publications like Vogue, Forbes, and The New York Times, Marian has firmly established herself as a leading influence in the fashion industry. Her impressive career includes winning the British Journal of Photography’s Portrait of Britain Award, where her work was showcased on billboards across the UK. Marian’s contributions extend beyond styling to include digital media innovation, where she has shaped the landscape of fashion, beauty, and culture through her editorial roles and creative direction. In this exclusive interview, Marian shares insights into her illustrious career, her commitment to representation in fashion, and her exciting future projects.

Please tell our readers about yourself and your career journey that made you who you are today.

Marian: My name is Marian Kwei (formerly) Kihogo and I am an award winning Vogue, Forbes and Black Enterprise editorial director, celebrity stylist, creative consultant and fashion & royal style expert considered an influence on fashion (Consul Press) who has had press from over 60 international mainstream titles.

I first became a magazine fashion editor and celebrity stylist. For 20 years I've worked with publications that were instrumental in the pioneering and shaping of digital fashion media.

Whilst working in this sector, my interest in digital media and the engagement it affords led me to start my blog, www.mariankwei.com. I became a social media icon pioneer who graced the cover of the first mainstream magazine to having social media icons grace its cover. At the time, my blog was listed among the best blogs curated around the world.

My work as an editor and stylist quickly led to my creative consultancy and working as a fashion expert. Alongside this I am now also editorial director of a digital high fashion magazine, Story Magazine.

As a fashion expert, how would you describe your fashion style?

Marian: I would describe my style as a layered maximalist, “ more is more” approach inspired by eras such as the ‘70s and ‘20s and my culturally assimilated experience of being of African heritage, raised both in West Africa and in the West. This experience results in a layered play on structure, color, texture, craft and print.

Looking back on your career, what moments or achievements stand out the most to you, and how have they shaped you both professionally and personally?

Marian: Being of Black heritage, my most treasured moments and achievements have been recognition by Black or Black-related media. Such as being spotlight on the Vogue Black website in conjunction with the all Black Vogue Italia issue.

Being hailed an influence on fashion by Consul Press with reference to creatives from Africa.

Being listed by Black Enterprise as a woman to watch.

Being listed by the likes of Essence Magazine, Ebony Magazine in best blog lists, and so on.

Being the only Black person in a group of profiles on the first mainstream magazine to have social media icons on its cover in 2013.

Being the only Black person to be chosen for Dolce & Gabbana multi-city Dress Me Up tour.

These achievements have shaped me professionally and personally by motivating me to make the main cause of my work — the advocating of better representation in the fashion and media industries.

As someone who shaped digital fashion media, how do you view the evolution of digital media in fashion, beauty, and culture today?

Marian: I think from a positive angle, I am immensely in awe of how the engagement in fashion media has evolved. My interests have always lain in engaging with the reader, and digital media has changed our ability to do so effectively in leaps and bounds.

With such a diverse and impactful career, what future projects or goals are you most excited about?

Marian: I am most excited about all my current and future work across media, consultation and styling because I use all my projects to advocate for representation, diversity and inclusion and all of my goals are around this mission.

What advice would you give to aspiring stylists and creatives who look up to you and want to make their mark in the fashion industry?

Marian: I would encourage them to believe in their point of view as creatives; to believe they have something to bring to the table, that they have stories to tell through their work.

I would also encourage them to hone their craft, to build good contacts by assisting and shadowing pre-established creatives as much as possible, to find mentors and a support network. Finally, I would encourage them to be persistent, to not give up and to be patient because success is usually not overnight.

Keep up to date on social media:

Instagram: @marian_kwei

Web: https://www.mariankwei.com/