Nubian Skin: the importance of representation based companies

By Jasmine Walsh, Illustration and Visual Media BA

As the creative industry expands, there becomes more room for much needed diversity. 

From Fenty Beauty Makeup to hiring more POC in leading creative roles, diversity is something that's always in the back of my head, as a working artist and WOC. If no one in a company looks like me or showcases the ability to cater for my demographic then what do I have to give them as a creative? 

From 2014, small companies such as Nubian Skin have been in the black beauty and business limelight. Finally a (lingerie and clothing) company by a Black British Woman, catering for Women of Colour with a mostly POC team? Our prayers have been heard. 

Whilst it's not the most well known company aiming to reach the widest demographic of people it possibly can, Ade Hassan (the founder of Nubian Skin) is an example of working twice as hard to reach your goals. Whether that be clothing, graphic design, marketing or else where, Hassan was one of the first WOC within the UK to be awarded by the Queen for her services to fashion in this category, and specifically with her commitment to redefining 'nude' and what we label as the 'standard' skin colours in the UK.

From gaining an OBE from the Queen, to taking both her parents to the ceremony whilst wearing Traditional West African Clothing, working alongside/with a company such as Nubian Skin is something I've dreamt of since late 2014.

And coincidentally 4 years later, I happened to run into one of the Nubian Skin team members and insisted on showing her my work. After working with a company founded by a Woman of Colour, for Women of Colour and working almost exclusively with Women of Colour, the photoshoot was a step in the right direction for someone fearful that they'd find it hard to work with a company that caters for them as an individual.