Some may be anxiously awaiting on Rihanna to release new music, but the Grammy-award winning singer's attention appears to be elsewhere: staking claim in a predominantly white fashion industry.
Rihanna recently opened up to The New York Times about her revolutionary line with Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), the enterprise that owns and operates Dior, Fendi and other high-end brands. As Blavity previously reported, the Barbados-born star makes history as the first woman to develop an original line with the revered label.
"Designing a line like this with LVMH is an incredibly special moment for us," Rihanna said earlier this month. "Mr. Arnault has given me a unique opportunity to develop a fashion house in the luxury sector, with no artistic limits. I couldn't imagine a better partner both creatively and business-wise, and I'm ready for the world to see what we have built together."
In the latest interview published Sunday, the "Diamonds" songstress was candid regarding whether her A-list status made it easier as a Black woman to succeed in a trade monopolized by white men.
"It's never alleviated, you know? You're going to be Black wherever you go," she said. "And I don't know if it's unfortunate or fortunate, because I love being Black So, sorry for those who don't like it – that’s the first thing you see before you even hear my voice."
In fact, the cosmetic mogul added she had no idea she was the first Black person to achieve such a milestone.
"No, and I didn't even know that until months into our relationship, when Jahleel brought it to my attention," Rihanna confessed. "And I'm like, 'Are you sure about that? Did you do your research? 'Cause I don't wanna state a claim that’s [expletive].' Because I still couldn’t believe it. It made me feel proud."
The 31-year-old continued by saying she wouldn’t apologize for achieving success on her own terms.
"There are also other factors: I'm young. I'm new to the family. I'm a woman. Those factors do come into play, but I will not apologize for them, and I will not back down from being a woman, from being Black, from having an opinion. I'm running a company and that’s exactly what I came here to do."
Speaking with Jeremy O. Harris, Rihanna made it clear she wants her forthcoming collection to reflect a new disruptive era of fashion.
"The brand is not traditional. There is no runway show,”the "Disturbia" crooner explained. "It's a new way of doing things because I believe that this is where fashion is going to go eventually."
As Rihanna put it, Fenty is "the beginning of a new world."
The new Fenty line launches with a pop-up in Paris on May 24 and will become available on Fenty's website May 29. Per The Times, new ready-to-wear clothing and accessories will be released each month along with other new products that will only be available online.
