Bal Harbour

in a dream, and then try to fi nd it in real life That Elle cover was an homage to fl y ass lac girls who grew up in hicago and who new when lived in ew or y goal was to have Zendaya embody this fl y girl who was at an event and had this amazing gown on, and afterwards shes still feeling cute and doesnt want to tae her gown off, so she throws on her sneaers ow shes on a stoop, smoing with her friends Thats who inspired this shoot, especially since now those proverbial girls DL: The Met Gala red carpet has been graced with incredible ensembles that were assembled by your vast imagination. One of my favorites was the Versace Joan of Arc moment. How do these exhibitions, or even art history, operate in your creative process? LR: I am obsessed with the way women carry themselves or a long time, Zendaya was associated with isney or the gala, she wore a custom Tommy ilfi ger gown, fashioned as inderella That was right around the time Euphoria came out and we were essentially paying homage to her own story, but using inderella to do it That moment represented Zendaya shedding her isney persona to tae on this new wor was there as her fairy godbrotherthe person to help her mae this transition hen she left her glass slipper on the stairs, it represented her shedding the isney imagery that was the last time she appeared as a isney rincess or the oan of rc ersace loo, they sent over setches looed at those, went to sleep and woe up feeling that the ensemble needed to be literal wanted a dress of armor, so we went bac to the drawing board and that was the outcome Thats my process research, a little dreaming and being the little lac gay boy from hicago at heart DL: How you've managed to uplift Black bodies and culture, particularly through Black women in glorious depictions, is unequivocally motivational. Can you share what motivated your recent Donyale Luna tribute for Essence magazine? LR: That shoot was an etension of the aris show we did with Tommy ilfi ger where we had all lac models e had everly ohnson, eronica ebb and all these incredible women The show in arlem celebrated how these women paved the way if it wasnt for them, how could there be a Zendaya, who has been on the cover of merican Vogue twice, among so many other covers? Zendaya and I are very humbled by the people who came before us lso, if there wasnt a Zendaya, how could there be a aw oach ny opportunity we get to pay respect to lac women and their contributions to fashion, we tae DL: What about your experience with Black women forged this path for you? LR: ow could it not These powerful, tenacious lac women raised us hen youre old enough to appreciate what your grandmother did, or what rs ohnson net door who babysat you did, you cant do anything but celebrate the character of these women e must be storytellers and communicate to future generations to eep these womens memories alive, because of what others may do to our history verything ve learned ve taught Zendaya, so she feels the same obligation hes also becoming a lac woman who will be celebrated for being a lac woman DL: I appreciate your successful effort to integrate a plethora of younger, bourgeoning designers, especially those of Afro-descent, within public-facing platforms. Where did this desire arise? LR: t initially came from necessity hen started woring with Zendaya, saw that she was tall, beautiful and poised, so thought everyone would want to dress her ut this was a time when a lot of the big houses werent dressing lac girls, and they questioned the validity of isney stars as real actresses e had to mae do and it forced me to use smaller, independent brands who were trying to mae it lie us, and didnt turn bac or eample, hristopher ohn ogers is a favorite, and to see where his career has gone is amaing thin hes one of the most infl uential designers in the world hen he speas about his clothes, its so beautiful DL: Certainly, Zendaya's new role as the face of Valentino is something to be admired and congratulated. As an image architect, what's your place in fostering this new chapter? LR: ts incredible because Zendaya is the fi rst face of the brand ts beautiful to be associated with such a legacy house ve never really put Zendaya in alentino, ecept maybe for a cover shoot to become the face of a brand she has hardly ever worn speas volumes to who we are as artists Roach served as costume designer for Zendaya in the recently released Malcolm & Marie (below); at left, the actress at the 2018 Met Gala in a custom look by Versace. cover was an homage to fl y ass lac girls who grew up in hicago and who new when lived in ew or y goal was was at an event and had this amazing gown and doesnt want to tae her gown off, so she throws on her sneaers ow shes on a stoop, smoing with her friends Thats who inspired this shoot, especially since now were assembled by your vast imagination. One of my favorites was the Versace Joan of Arc moment. How do these exhibitions, I am obsessed with the way women carry themselves or a long time, Zendaya was associated with isney or the gala, came out and we were essentially paying homage to her own moment represented Zendaya shedding her hen she left her glass slipper on the stairs, imagery that was the last time she appeared went to sleep and woe up feeling that the drawing board and that was the outcome Thats my process research, a little dreaming DL: How you've managed to uplift Black bodies and culture, particularly through unequivocally motivational. Can you share tenacious lac women raised us hen youre old enough to appreciate what your grandmother did, or what rs ohnson houses werent dressing lac girls, and they questioned the validity of isney stars as real actresses e had to mae do and Roach served as costume designer for Zendaya in the recently released Malcolm & Marie (below); at left, the actress at the 2018 Met Gala in a custom look by Versace. "When you're old enough to appreciate what your grandmother did, you can't do any thing but celebrate the character of these women. We must be story tellers and communicate to future generations." PHOTOS BY EASTON SCHIRRA (ROACH), DOMINIC MILLER NETFLIX © 2021, DIA DIPASUPIL/GETTY (ZENDAYA) BAL HARBOUR 119

• Cover