Letters is a love letter to immigrants,and to the ways they quietly, powerfully shape the cultural and fashion landscapes of cities like London. This editorial was the practical outcome of my dissertation, which explored immigrant contributions to British fashion. Through in-depth interviews with designers, stylists, models, photographers, and other creatives,all of whom are immigrants, I began to see a tapestry of voices and stories that deserved to be visually honored.This shoot is my homage to them: the people who leave home and bring their worlds with them.
The Plastic Chair:
At the heart of the shoot is a single, symbolic object: the ubiquitous plastic chair. Inspired in part by Bad Bunny’s reflections on memory and culture, I found that these chairs were a universal thread across so many immigrant narratives. They’ve been there for birthdays, for weddings, for casual evenings on balconies, for long meals with family, and quiet moments of solitude. In many ways, the plastic chair holds the emotional weight of migration, resilience, familiarity, comfort. I wanted to place these deeply nostalgic chairs in a setting that felt equally specific to the UK immigrant experience: the back garden of a terraced house. That setting, with its brick walls and modest charm, created the perfect visual contrast, something deeply British, and something unmistakably immigrant.
There’s a raw honesty to this shoot, and that’s intentional. I didn’t want to glamorise or dramatise migration, I wanted to humanise it. I wanted it to feel lived-in, intimate, and true.
The Name: Letters
The title came naturally. Each image is a letter, to home, to culture, to self, to the journey. This editorial is a visual archive of memories, some joyful, some painful, all essential. It’s about where we come from, where we are now, and how those two worlds co-exist.
Styling
I worked with pieces by two designers, from India and China. I wanted to include a culture that was my own and one that wasn’t, so I could explore both personal storytelling and respectful representation. Both designers create garments that merge traditional craft with youthful, contemporary energy. It was important to me that the styling reflect that intersection, where heritage meets modern British identity.
Hair, Makeup, and Casting
I wanted the models to look like themselves. Like real young people who are carrying histories in quiet, powerful ways. Hair was kept natural to how they wear it. Makeup was minimal, just enough to highlight their features while letting the garments and personalities shine through.
