Trevor Stuurman - Telling Stories Through Style
“Fashion is a personal and powerful medium to express things greater than myself.”
Trevor Stuurman: global African, innovator, and artist. He encapsulates the essence of Africa in his work, challenges the way in which Africa is portrayed and tells the story of a continent that is moving forward – striving to always highlight its beauty and power. The Stuurman Style Diary is a platform whereby he showcases African style and everything that inspires that style. From representing Africa at Patti Imagine in Italy, to photographing AfroPunk for British Vogue and being a panellist at the Black Portraitures Conference hosted by New York University and Harvard University - Trevor has grown to reach new heights beyond the imaginable.
Trevor was born and raised in Kimberley and admits that he was inspired by his upbringing. He started defining his passion at an early age. “I cannot remember a time when fashion was not a part of my life. Growing up I was always creative.” It is manifest through his craft that he has a strong sense of self and his roots.
Today, Trevor Stuurman is not only known as a photographer, but as a creative director and style consultant as well. As a student of Film at AFDA, winning the Elle Style Reporter Search in 2012 at the tender age of 19 played a significant role in propelling his career. “It was my first job so it allowed me to save up to buy my first microphone; it allowed me to travel the world. It gave me exposure within the Elle Magazine. My first trip to London was with Elle.”
His photography - which always emanates a blend of vibrant colours, fascinating textures and cultural diversity – is a reflection of who he is. It is evident that all of his subjects resonate with his identity. He says with assurance, “It is part of storytelling so it’s always important to document it and it is even more important to document it from a personal point of view as opposed to a second-hand reference. African art and fashion allows me to do that.”
Trevor says that all the works he has done are memorable to him. “I don’t see them as individual pieces but I see them as a body of work. Collectively, everything amounts to something as opposed to one standout.”
When asked if there was any creative material he was exposed to in the past that played a role in shaping who he is today, Trevor says he was shaped by everything. “I’m so multi-faceted; I can’t pinpoint one piece or one medium that shaped me.” He adds with a smile on his face, “I do it all. I’ve been shaped by everything – every little exhibition I visited, every song I’ve listened to, every travel – it’s a collection of everything. I don’t think we can narrow it down to one body of work because I’m not genre-specific, I’m not medium-specific.”
Trevor’s career has afforded him the opportunity to explore all around the world, from our very own African cities, to New York, Italy and London. He admits that traveling has made him gain new perspectives. “I don’t think you can ever travel and not change. It just allows you to see the world from a different lens. It allows you to appreciate and value life better. Value life as it is or as you understand it.”
Many upcoming creatives grapple with preserving their creative integrity while aspiring to meet brands halfway. When collaborating with brands, Trevor strikes a great balance between sharing meaningful stories as a creative while meeting the brand’s expectation. “It’s important to put your foot down, to always establish that. You also have the choice to choose what brands to work with instead of always feeling disempowered. You choose as opposed to other way where you feel thankful for being chosen to collaborate with them. So it’s about taking yourself as serious.”
Trevor has accomplished so much in a short space of time. But he is still motivated and driven to do more. “I don’t see myself accomplished a lot yet because the dream is still so much bigger. Once you’ve achieved something, it’s done. Then it allows you to dream bigger. It’s not about what you’ve done before; it’s about what the future holds.”
Trevor still has bigger aspirations such as working with the newly appointed artistic director of Louis Vuitton Menswear, Virgil Abloh. “I would like to see myself partnering with Virgil Abloh and Mary Sibande [a prolific Johannesburg-based artist].”
Trevor’s message to aspiring creatives is that they must find their voice. “Find your voice, nurture it and protect it. Your voice is your weapon and it is what sets you apart. Therefore it’s so important to be aware of that - what am I trying to say and how am I saying it. So it’s always so important to be aware of that.”
He concluded ,“Live a life that is of value and value to others.”
Images courtesy of: www.instagram.com/trevor_stuurman
