Teyana Taylor Speaks On Her PrettyLittleThing Creative Director Role

UNITED KINGDOM — As this year comes to an end, we must admit that 2020 was a good year for year for music artist, dancer, actress, designer and model Teyana Taylor. Last summer D.M. Fashion Book reported that she signed with IMG Models (see it here), was named M.A.C Cosmetics‘s newest muse (see it here), released a 90’s inspired collection for the brand (see it here) and covered i-D magazine (see it here).

On the music side, the Harlem, N.Y., native released her third studio album, entitled THE ALBUM on Friday June 19th via Good Music/Def Jam Recordings (she recently announced her retirement from music and requested to be dropped from the labels).

The 30-year-old powerhouse is now adding creative director to her forever growing resume.

She told WWD over the phone, “I will be 100 percent hands-on and hands-in,” explaining her vision for PrettyLittleThing. The entertainer has been named creative director in a yearlong partnership with the U.K.-based fast-fashion e-tailer.

She described her first collection, which will be unveiled in January, as a blend of “girly girl” and “tomboy.” Available in U.S. sizes 0 to 26 (the largest in the company’s plus-size category), expect a denim jumpsuit, oversized jackets, sweats, pieces in faux leather, wool and a series of skintight, cutout minidresses. The color palette offers black, browns, green chartreuse and metallic grays.

“I’ve always had a love for fashion, different looks and clothes,” continued Taylor, who first collaborated with PrettyLittleThing as the face of its collaboration with designer Karl Kani.

With PrettyLittleThing, her relationship with the company began after meeting its founder and chief executive officer Umar Kamani through a friend during fashion week. Kamani became interested in collaborating with Taylor beyond a onetime design partnership.

“This was something that was easy for me,” she said of taking on her new role. “When it was time to design, it was pretty exciting because I am more of a vintage-T and Rick Owens sweats kind of girl, but when it came to designing for PLT, it was actually pretty fun, because I had to think more outside the box.”

The collaboration process was entirely done through virtual meetings this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We would get on our Zoom calls or WhatsApp and really just make it happen,” she said of the design team. They accommodated her schedule as a mom to a three-month-old, she added: “They were very kind. They were really considerate, especially with me having a newborn.”

“I feel great,” she said reflecting on the year, staying mum when it came to music. “I feel blessed. I feel grateful, filled with gratitude. I think that’s the most important thing, being in a peaceful place. I’m very excited about all that I have. Coming up, very excited about all that I’m doing. You know, I would have never thought in a million years that one day I would be the creative director of PLT.…Umar, he’s seeing a bigger picture. He’s seeing something bigger for me than just being in his clothes.”

Photos Credit: Instagram Reproduction