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What’s Next Podcast with Umindi Francis is a new podcast that explores perspectives from executives, creatives, and thought leaders at the intersection of business, marketing, and strategy in technology, fashion, entertainment, and more.
Umindi Francis leverages 20 years of business strategy experience and relationships as an entrepreneur, and executive for some of the world’s leading brands, to discuss insights, and the next frontier of business, from the people that move their industries forward. The podcast also highlights their path to success to deeper understand their journey.
Listeners will gain insights into how our guests drive innovation. They will also walk away from each episode encouraged and inspired to tackle their own professional goals in business. As a result of Umindi’s connections, listeners can expect marquee guests each episode.
Ade Samuel: seeing what my culture was, and just the creativeness of the, the people of the continent specifically in Nigeria, was so inspiring to me that I made it my mission to work on bridging the gap, work on telling the stories of what's happening across the sea with what's happening here and, and how to merge and infuse, the high fashion world of what we're doing here in America and what they're doing there in, in Nigeria.
Umindi Francis: This is What's Next Podcast with Umindi Francis. We're talking fashion, business, and what's next? Let's go.
Today we have native New Yorker, Ade Samuel, who's setting the standards among Hollywood's creatives, impressing the industry with her dynamic, one-of-a-kind approach to cutting-edge style.
Raised in the Bronx, Ade was born to a family of Nigerian descent. Her notable clients have been Michael B. Jordan, Daniel Kalua, Cynthia Ivo, Big Sean, Yara Shahidi, Miley Cyrus. Khaled and City Girls. And the list goes on and on. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm pleased to introduce my friend, Ade Samuel. Welcome Ade to What's Next Podcast.
Ade Samuel: Aw, thanks for having me. Such a great intro.
Umindi Francis: Oh, I mean, well, you know, you did all of that. You did all of that.
Welcome to New York. I know you're here on the heels of your Good Morning America appearance after the Oscars. Yes, yes. So we're so happy you made time to sit with us.
Ade Samuel: Yes. While here, I'm happy to be here. Well, you, I'm proud of you too. Oh. You look cute too.
Umindi Francis: Thank you, darling. Well, I'm wearing the Ade Samuel collection.
From Macy's. I, I'm absolutely, to be honest, walking over here from the car. you know, I got so many compliments about my chocolate look so, You know, definitely onto something. I have a few pieces that I love and honestly nothing but compliments.
Ade Samuel: Yes. Chocolate goddess. Okay. No, this was the intentionality with this, this monotone. You actually put the look together how I envision this, so it's perfect.
Umindi Francis: Oh, kudos to me. And so fit check. What are we wearing today? You're always so fabulous.
Ade Samuel: Aw. Well, I for you, you know I had to come fab, but I'm wearing EZ Miyaki and yeah, some jewelry, diesel.
Umindi Francis: Every, everything's given. The nails have the biju given.
Yes. We love it.
Ade Samuel: Wait, what is this bracelet, by the way?
Umindi Francis: Oh, this bracelet . This is vintage, almost vintage. Bottega. Venetta. Oh. Um,it was.
Ade Samuel: What does almost vintage mean?
Umindi Francis: Almost 20 years old. Wow. Bottega Venetta, if I'm not mistaken, almost vintage. And, it is, from Thomas Myers collection. It was inspired by the doors at the Fenice Opera in Venice. Ooh. That's why they have these fantastic hinges. It's this baroque style, and I really love the jewelry from the costume, jewelry from Bottega, Venetta and Chanel. They just, you know, and Dior as well, they make really great custom pieces that, you know, age well. Vintage, timeless, you can pass down from generation to generation. Yes. So these brands have done a really great job. This is a very special piece. And you know, I love wearing things that tell stories.
Ade Samuel: It looks good. No, and I'm a big jewelry person, I can tell. But I can see. I can today I'm a little bit light, but.
Umindi Francis: Well, you have impeccable style, so let's get into it, dear. Yes. How did you get here? Tell us about your professional journey.
Ade Samuel: I got here and via Uber.. I have my, it's all right. Too many jokes. Um, so tell us, tell me about my journey.
Umindi Francis: Okay. Yeah. You have, you've had such a phenomenal career trajectory. Oh, Jesus. How do you become a celebrity stylist? Tell us, you know? Yeah. Our listeners love hearing about the journey and understanding how you have been able to garner the success that you've gotten. It's not easy. Yeah. You know, to break into the industry. But not only have you broken into the industry you've managed to soar. Let me forget to mention the fact that you've had a full page profile in the New York Times, in the Wall Street Journal, you've had, you've produced your own short film Short with BET. Yeah. You've really transcended again, good Morning America. Yeah. How?
Ade Samuel: Yeah, like, I'm so confused, but no, I think I always like to say I hustled and grind. You know, in the beginning I did a lot of hustling during, and hustling, meaning internships.
You know, I had assistant work. You know, I started my career in New York. I always say that was my first career before I started my second wind in LA and now I'm going for my third wind. But, we'll get into that, right? My, so I started as an intern, kind of just trying to figure out what part of fashion I wanted to be in, you know, so in that journey, I took on whatever job I said yes to, whatever I could get, and my first opportunity was with a PR company.
So I started on PR, trying to figure out, okay, do I like PR? What do they do? How do I wor, you know, how can I figure out this world? I went from Denberg and Cole to DVF, which was going from like a PR firm to an in-house PR company. Interesting. Going, working at DVF, I realized, oh my gosh, I love seeing the stylists pull the clothes. So I realized, oh, okay. So there's someone else in between that's actually pulling the clothes, and that made me, you know, that made me interested in going into magazines. So before I went into magazines, I had an opportunity to intern at Fashion Week when it was in the tents.
So I interned with a woman named Fern Malice, who was at Fern Malice, the Creator Fashion Week. And I was like her right hand. You know, my job was to secure her seats at the shell to make sure that she. And it was such a little job, but all the access was enough for me. You know, I had, I was bouncing around every different show and, and just meeting so many different people, which got me an opportunity to work at W Magazine as an intern.
And one of day one of the editors were needed to go on like a trip too, like Aspen or something. And they were like, okay, we need someone to run the closet for a week, so we're gonna leave you. So I took my shout out to Gar Munz. I took his role as like for a week, but I was still an intern and that really just heightened my, my love, you know, because I always tell, tell people I was in the room during that time when, Camilla Nicholson and Alex White had a desk. You know, Edward, no way Like an editor, you know, coming down cuz Ste Tunchi was, you know, I, I believe the editor in chief at the time for W.
So it was such a different world. You know, you had Lori Goldstein. Yes. You had Lori Goldstein running in and out. You had all these amazing stylists running in and out. And I, and I realized that like, oh, okay, I think I wanna be a stylist, but I still was trying to figure it out because I also loved editorial. So I then got an internship with Teen Vogue and, and that was my first position with Conde Nast. And being an intern there was amazing. I was still in school, I was still working all my odd jobs. And before I graduated they offered me a role as a fashion closet assistant. And I graduated from there to become an accessories assistant editor.
And being in those two roles, I really got to network and meet amazing stylists that were coming into the room. Some that I would help on the weekends. And I remember, it was so funny because I got an opportunity to work with Camilla and Carla at the time.
Carla Welch was a duo back in the day. It was Camilla and Carla. You know, Carla was like, no, you need to stay at Teen Vogue. Like you need to get the contacts, get the network. And you know, I followed her advice and ended up staying there. And then when it was time to leave, three years later I realized, you know, it's time to make the big jump.
And that's what I did. And I started, you know, I got a position to assist another stylish share culture and it was for Rosie Huntington. So I assisted a client named Rosie Huntington with me, and that's when I fell in love with styling. You know, working with Rosie, styling, her being in the midst of the photographers and the red carpet and Hollywood. It was just amazing. And, and that really was, is what kick started my career.
So, how did I start? I mean, I, I literally just took so many jobs and, and just kind of, you know, got my feet wet. Figured out what I loved within fashion cause I had no idea and went from all different worlds of it and, and, and landed in styling.
Umindi Francis: That's so incredible. Yeah. There's so much passion behind those moments. You so eloquently took us through your journey, but what is that feeling when you're given that opportunity? Because you really never know and it's so hard to break into these spaces and get these opportunities.
I just know like, I remember being an intern, you know, and, and you never know.
You have a dream, right? Yeah. It's a passion inside. Yeah. And then it's like everything is unfolding for you and it doesn't happen for everyone.
Ade Samuel: Yeah. You know, it was exciting. I think I was the most excited while I was an intern. Right. Because I always, I always tell people like, my mindset was always, I was pledging.
That's how I saw it. So my mindset was, I always told myself I'm pledging until I cross. I'm pledging until I cross. And that's only because I was so exposed to Greek life at an early age. Pledging a sorority for those. Yeah. Yeah. So, and you know, and, and there were moments that it felt like we were pledging. Oh yeah.
And getting hazed, you know, the ones who know, know. But, you know, I always had that mentality, but I also, it was such an exciting time during my era of growing in fashion. You know, I always tell people like, I got to see the armadillo shoe in person, and you're like, you know, like, I got to see a lot of fashion in the, in, in the forefront, you know?
And I, and it's such a bummer that people don't have the opportunity to intern these days because you really get exposure to the things, you know, the things that you see on the magazines or you see on the runway. And I think for me, I, I always saw it as an exciting thing and, and it's because of where I came from.
You know, being a girl from the Bronx, I never was really exposed to high fashion in that way. So in these positions, I just saw them as opportunities and I always, I always hustled and grind to the point where some people were like, okay, are you, are we here to, are you like funny situations? But I always had situations where people like, you're taking this a little too seriously.
Yes. and I was like, yeah, I'm trying to get a job like I am going to, but. Yeah. I think that, to answer your question, I just always saw it as a fun, fun kind of experience and, and it really was me knowing that I had to do this, I had to do X to get to there, to Z. Right. You know what I mean? Right.
Umindi Francis: That's very inspiring. I know. that will resonate with a lot of folks. So what has been a pivotal or defining moment in your career that changed your trajectory for better or for worse?
Ade Samuel: Mm. I think when I got the opportunity to really dive into the creative direction space, that really was an amazing opportunity.
You know, now I graduated in a way and not really graduated, but now I'm kind of enhancing and expanding my creative vision from just a stylist and growing into creative director. So, you know, I just did the creative direction for City Girls for the Coachella performance. And really diving into that space has been a huge pivot for me and a monumental moment for me to just kind of see my visual eye, not from just the standpoint of like putting clothes on clients, right, but what it looks like in motion. You know? And I think that's been super exciting for me as I, you know, as I grow and, and expand in, in, in my world of what I wanna do. Because in my mind, sometimes I feel like I'm so, there's so much that I wanna do, there's so much that I have creatively that I wanna see in the world.
So it's been really exciting diving into those spaces like creative direction and video content as well.
Umindi Francis: Yeah. Just tell me, for those listeners, it might not know the difference between styling and creative direction. Yeah. Can you explain it a little bit? Yeah. I will say, you know, you've had such a fantastic career in styling.
Knowing you personally, being alongside you along that journey was very interesting when you were like, I wanna move into a creative direction more. Yeah. And you did it so seamlessly. So what's the difference?
Ade Samuel: Yeah, so stylists are, you know, there to a stylist is someone who's the creative visionary for an artist, an actor, a, and you know musician.
You know, they're the ones who're going to basically liaison your creative vision for that artist, for the red carpet, for their music videos. It's very specific. We're creative. The visuals and the vision is from you. And I think that's the biggest difference. You know, even though we're a stylist, sometimes we don't always have to create a control because most artists will tell you they're not gonna push an agenda, a look or an idea for their client.
Like when you're a creative director, you do push an idea, you do push the artistry, you do have a creative vision. Vision. That's the idea that is, is sometimes nuanced, but also most of the time new. You know, and, and I think as a stylist, you are often the person that's calling in the clothes, getting the stuff, dressing the client.
We're like a creative director. You kind of hands off with that, which is a beautiful part, right?
Umindi Francis: I get it. I get it. So you are responsible for so many more beautiful editorial fashion stories than leading publications. Yeah. You know? Do you prefer editorial over celebrity styling, and what are your feelings towards both?
Ade Samuel: Mm. I love Ed. I'm an editorial girl, you know, and I think that I love the creative freedom that you have doing editorial, but I love the feeling of making people and clients and my artists feel good as a stylist.
So I think it really just depends on, it just really depends on the moment. If I had, if I had to pick one, if I was given one shot, it would be editorial because I do love artistry. I love the creative vision and the creative freedom that you have. I think most people don't realize, as an editor, you really can tell a story that comes to mind in just a unique way, and I, and I find that to be so fun, you know?
Umindi Francis: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, you've been able to mesh the two you've had. Yeah. You've done editorial shoots for some of your clients or some of the best publications in the world.
Yeah. And those pages are always so wonderful. Like Naomi Harris. Yeah. I remember seeing a beautiful editorial Essence, I believe. Yes, yes. You cover that, you know, and it's just mm-hmm. You see the editorial and you, and you know, you, you, you're, you lose your breath because Yeah. The images are so beautiful and that's, you know, something that you're known for.
Thank you. So, what inspires you?
Ade Samuel: The world inspires me. Traveling inspires me. I'm super inspired by, and I always often say this, real people. You know, travel. I like to travel a lot, a lot of leisurely, you know, just research, just going outside, especially when I'm in New York or when I'm in Nigeria or when I'm in Europe.
It's really important for me to just explore what people are doing authentically. That really is my biggest inspiration. Seeing humans live, you know, and the way that they live and the way that they dress and what they gravitate towards.
So I'm, and then film, you know, a lot of people. If you know me closely, I watch a lot of films and do a lot of research on just different eras. I'm so into the different eras of fashion, the different eras of film, the different eras of just creative visions and photographers. So I, I'm inspired by the world and I think it's so important that I continue to travel so that I can get, be that myself, that, you know. I think we live in such a digital era, in social media time, that sometimes I have to force myself not to look on social media and actually walk the world right.
So that I can see new visions and, and get inspired by that way.
Umindi Francis: It's so interesting. I, I'm a big fan of a lot of your, obviously a lot of your work. Yeah. And you have such a global perspective. In the last few years, I've noticed how much you've infused a lot of your African culture and things that you do on the continent into your work and also special projects that you've done on the continent.
Can you talk to me a little bit about that and how, you know, how that, the passion, obviously your background drives a passion, but you've come up with some really beautiful things. Can we talk about those projects?
Ade Samuel: Yes. So I had the opportunity of going to Nigeria again after a long time, like, you know, maybe from when I was a child.
I went back in about 2017 and going to the continent was so life-changing, like seeing what my culture was, what the tradition was, what the heritage of my family and the backgrounds of my ancestors was, and just the creativeness of the, the people of the continent specifically in Nigeria, was so inspiring to me that I found, you know, I, I made it my mission to work on bridging the gap, work on telling the stories of what's happening across the sea with what's happening here and, and how to merge and infuse, you know, kind of the high fashion world of what we're doing here in America and what they're doing there in, in Nigeria. And all, honestly, all over the continent because fashion, art, beauty, everything is just so, music is so heightened over the continent that I've found it to be something that just truly just inspired and, and sparked a, a, a need for me to just expose that to the world. Right.
So with that, I thought, you know, how can I infuse my culture with what I'm doing? And a lot of that was like, okay, well I have the freedom and opportunity to bring, you know, awareness to certain designers that are, you know, in the continent that maybe people don't know about. You know, I have the opportunity to promote certain artistry that people don't know about or certain, you know, places in Africa. So, going in 2017, you know, I ended up bringing Vogue along the journey with me and we did like, you know, behind the scenes just because I was so inspired by what they already had to offer. It wasn't like going in there and being like, this is what we need to do, or, right, this is the American vibe. You guys should adapt. It was more like, oh wait, you guys are super cool. Why doesn't America need to see this? It's like the world needs to see this. And that really was just, you know, important. And being someone from Nigerian descent, I just really wanted to infuse my culture.
Umindi Francis: Beautiful. It was so beautifully done. Thank you. So you mentioned so many stylists that you had the great fortune of learning from and working with. Who inspires you? Who do you look up to in the industry that, you know, that's a stylist that you know really has been your guiding light, someone you admire?
Ade Samuel: It's so interesting because I think that a lot of the people that I'm inspired by, I've worked with, but, you know, one person, and I'm, well, a couple of people, but I'm super inspired by Patty Wilson. You know, when I look at her,
I've had the blessed opportunity to assist her during my assistant days when I actually left Teen Vogue and I was struggling on what I was gonna do next. And she's just honestly the epitome of class, unique, eccentric styling. She's a Black icon, queen. So I'm so inspired by her. Ruth Carter, June Ambrose, Misa Hylton,
I'm inspired by a lot of the greats, you know, because I think that as a black stylist, as a black female stylist, I didn't see a lot of me, you know, in my come up. So they're the ones who, who were the real, real reason why I kept on dreaming and, and they're the big ones for me. Right.
Umindi Francis: Yeah. And not to be cliched, but what's the importance of representation?
Yeah. You just mentioned that you didn't see yourself coming. Yeah. How important is that, because obviously you're inspiring others who are trying to make it already in the space coming up, what does representation mean for you?
Ade Samuel: Representation to me is so important. You know, because if you see yourself, then you believe that you can get there.
You know? So for me, I did not see myself growing up in the business, but I saw people that were doing things or people that have left the mark, like June Misa, Patty Wilson, and they really. Yeah, they really made me feel like I can, I can obtain that. And I think that's what representation does. It just makes that little dreamer feel like it's obtainable.
You know? When everyone saw a Black president firstly elected, we all felt like, okay, it's not impossible anymore. And I think that's what representation does. It removes that idea of impossibility. And I think that's necessary for, for the youth, honestly, which is another reason, you know, my mission of bridging that gap with Africa is so important because the youth, the future, the future of artistry, artists and stylists and creatives, it really starts with us, with, it starts with the people that are doing it now.
And, you know, I don't really look at myself like, oh my gosh, I'm inspiring this person or that person. I'm just, I just believe in what I do. You. Yeah. No .
Umindi Francis: Well miss thing, you have an indelible style. You know, you are fierce. I love the way you put clothes together. I've run through the streets of Paris with you girl.
We have had so much fun.
Ade Samuel: So big Ramon tape. So much fun in Paris. We need another date over there. Yes, yes,
Umindi Francis: Yes. In time. We don't really have a choice. Right, right. I wanna know what designers are you feeling? You know, who do you go to? I mean, you're wearing Issey Miyake right now. I know.
Ade Samuel: I often wear Issey Miyake. I love Issey Miyake. I love, see, I don't have a favorite, so that's why it's always hard when people ask me like, what's your favorite? What's, what's your group? What's your group? You know? But I definitely am a big fan of a lot of European designers, Japanese designers. Issey Miyake. You'll see me in Issey Miyake all the time. Dries Van Noten you'll see a lot of Marcella, Simone Rocha. You know, I'm very into the unique fashion designers, the ones who are still taking risks. Commercially, you know, you always see me and Philip Lim, Saaki. Those brands are always, you know, brands that I love. It's, it's usually the brands that everyone's not gravitating towards, right?
It's the brands that you're like, oh, I'm, what is Ade wearing? But I have a lot of people that I love. It's, it's no one, you know? It's no one. I think I'm too much of a stylist. Like, I just like everyone to be honest. Yes, yes, yes. You definitely know what's up.
Umindi Francis: So you recently launched your first fashion collection with Macy's International concept. I had the honor of wearing it today, yes. And I, of course I put it on because you were here. But you know, I'm in the collection. I wear these things. Yes, it's definitely. I love the ease of it, the versatility. Mm-hmm. I see that you thought of, you know, many different women. Mm-hmm. So I think what's interesting for, you know, our listeners is the fact that you are, you know, you're pivot, you're pivot into all these spaces, styling, creative direction, and now a designer.
So how did you feel about your first foray into design and, you know, what did you do? When did you get the call? Take us through the steps.
Ade Samuel: Oh my God, that call was so funny because it happened right before the year of 2021 ended and it was such an interesting time. We had just finished the pandemic, you know, well, I guess the pandemic was still happening.
It could have gone, you know, it was still the, yeah, it was like the pandemic was still, we were just in the height of the pa I should say. We started out at the height of the pandemic. And I got that call and it was just really interesting because I have such a love for Macy's. Growing up in New York, we all went to Macy's on Herald Square. It was a staple as a fashion girl. I worked in that facility because I worked in so many retail stores.
So it was just amazing to get a call from a staple brand that I knew my mom would love. Yeah. When I got the opportunity, you know, I had to definitely look at the people before me and Misa Hylton, you know, someone who I'm truly inspired by, someone who I call mother, who I love, and she's like a, a fiercest ever an important person in my life, or to me.
And, I remember calling her and being like, I got the same opportunity. What do you think? And she's like, you have to do it. And I was just like, I know that this would be my chance to just really let that creative mind that I had of designing free.
Macy's was probably one of the best people and best companies to work with. I mean, it was super seamless. It was so amazing. It was so easy. Like honestly, it was the easiest collection to develop. But it was uniquely different for me because I had never developed clothes. Everything that I did was shoes, you know, and or like working in the closet with accessories. So, to be asked to do a clothing line just felt different. Scary, but also fun.
So, it was a quick turnaround. You know, they called me at the end of 2021. By the beginning of January 2022, I had to have my collection developed and ready to go. I'm not the technical designer, so it was a lot of pulling references of things that I would either wear or things that I've seen people wear, or things that like staples pieces that I know are gonna live in my closet forever. Right? Like even with what you're wearing, I see staple. I wanted things to be classic. I wanted people to feel like, oh, I can wear this in 10 years from now. My people might ask, where's that from? And it feels fine, it's full vibe. And that's what I wanted it to give.
So it was unique, it was scary, but it was also fun. And the scary part was just, are people gonna like it? How are people gonna respond? How is it gonna be worn? Like, how are people gonna style it? But the fun fact, the fun part was developing it with them. And then I had so much fun doing that. Like it was amazing.
Umindi Francis: Yeah. Well you are multi hyphenated of course, by now, and you just mentioned shoes. Yeah. And you did have a shoe collection at one time. Yeah. And, you know, entrepreneurship isn't easy, but, what, you know, how do you feel about that and that experience?
Ade Samuel: Shoes were a whole different beast. And it was one of my favorites. By God's grace, I'll be bringing it back into the world. You can't wait into the universe now, listen.
Right? But it definitely was an amazing experience. It was the first time that I took a risk, you know, as an assistant. You know, I found that what I wanted to invest a lot of my earnings in was developing something that I was passionate about. You know, in the beginning I mentioned that I became an accessories editor at Teen Vogue. So a lot of my world was in accessories. Even when I, when I was at W, I lived kind of in that accessories world.
And I'm a shoe lover. Everybody who knows me knows that I love shoes, so I really wanted to give it a go. I had lived in Italy for a stint while I was in college, while I studied abroad. So I knew that I wanted to produce shoes in Italy, and I really just took a leap of faith to do that. Of course the challenge came with funding At the time, you know, before 2020, before the pandemic, Black designers, Black artists, Black creatives, weren't getting the light. We weren't being invested in, people weren't trying to give us capitals or invest in, in loans and grants and all of these amazing things that happened post the pandemic.
So a lot of the money was my savings. And, you know, after doing trade shows and having multiple desk side appointments. You know, for people who don't know desk sides are when you meet with editors and at the magazine, people in the industries to, to promote, and I had great traction. You know, Yara Shahidi was in my shoes. Kelly Rowland was in my shoes. You know, Alicia Silverstone, you know, clueless Cher was in my shoes. And it was amazing traction, but the traction didn't equate to the ample amount of sales that I wanted. So I found, and then on top of, my career started to pick up, you know, so it became one of those things where I had to make a choice.
You know, it was like I had clients coming out of the woodwork and wanting to work with me, which was amazing. And then I had the shoes and unfortunately it's not an easy, you know, an easy journey to say, I wanna do, be a shoe designer, which everyone that makes that designs know that accessories is the hardest, and then be a stylist, so I decided to make a decision and that choice was to go full forth into my world of styling because I didn't want all my interning and free work to go . I noticed, I said, you know what, girl, you gonna get back to your shoes after you get all some more, you know, capital in the bank. And, you know, I'm, I'm blessed to say it was definitely an amazing experience.
I love my shoe collection. I loved what I made, and I can't wait to bring it back into the world.
Umindi Francis: I'm excited to hear that you can't wait to bring it back into the world. , you know, things have changed a little bit. Mm-hmm. , there's been more visibility and it is a problem with, you know, less than 2% of black female founders.
Mm-hmm. garnering venture capital for their businesses. Yeah. And that shoe collection was everything I expected it to be from you. So whatever you touch turns the gold, for sure.
We for sure wait in. Yeah.
So did this process with Macy's and your beautiful collection, international concepts, open up your mind or dreams for anything else?
Ade Samuel: I think it did. I think I definitely loved the designing process. I think, you know, being a designer I always thought about it in accessories.
So working with Macy's and doing ready to wear, I really felt like, oh, there's more silhouettes that I wanna do. There's more looks that I see people need to wear. So it did open my mind up. I'm really excited to dive into ready to wear and see how I can expand in that space, for sure. Okay.
Awesome. Well, we are waiting with friends.
Yeah. So many visions and dreams coming out of this.
Umindi Francis: And that's what it's about. Yeah. Inspiration and growth. And I love your fearlessness. Oh, I love that You, whatever you envision, like you said, you have all these dreams and ideas in your head. Yeah. And little by little, you're making it all happen. Yes.
Which is inspiring to people. Yes. You know, who also dreams. Go outside of the box. Yes. It's inspiring to people who also dream to go outside of the box.
Ade Samuel: Yeah, no, I love that.
Umindi Francis: So you're based in Los Angeles? Yes, I am. Have you found there to be a benefit to being on either coast, east, east or West coast for business? I mean, so many stylists you know, are in between the two, or is being bicoastal a requirement?
Ade Samuel: Bicoastal, yes. Great . It's just great living. It's not a requirement. You know, I'm from New York, born and bred from the Bronx, so I will always find, you know, have New York as a home, but also a love in my heart. So with that being said, I love living in New York, but I definitely feel as though it's been a benefit living in LA.
I moved to LA 10 years ago and I can't believe it's been 10 years. I know. So it's so crazy, so fast. But what I found about Los Angeles is that it is a little bit more of a, what's the best word? Hm. You do garner great success being in la You know, I do find that living in LA is, you have better exposure. Maybe it's the sun that keeps you a little bit happier, but you do have better exposure to growth in what you wanna do.
And I found that to be the case with me going out to LA my first year and just getting so many opportunities, just being at the foot of celebrity. And I think that's the biggest difference.
LA is a celebrity and I would say LA is for celebrities. New York is born editorial. So it really just depends on what space you wanna be in. When you get to a certain tier in your life, it'll be good to live on both coasts because you'll have opportunities on both coasts. Right? But I find that you are more, you, it's.
You can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere, but if you make it in LA there's true success and there's true financial freedom that can really happen that I find to happen, that I found happened with me in LA.
Umindi Francis: That's great. I appreciate your perspective. That's a gem. Somebody's gonna take it away for sure.
Ade Samuel: Yeah. Yeah.
I wanna talk to you about branding Yeah. And personal branding. And you have done such a great job with that. And how does social media help with that? And what is your singular vision about that? There's so many platforms now. Yeah. How do you find the time?
How do you find the time? You gotta make the time. Gotta force yourself to make the time. But, I love social media. You know, I was just talking to someone about this, like, I've accepted where we are in this era, you know, and I, I think also, I didn't come up during the time of social media. I always run back the story of being at Conde Nast and you know, Ava Chen being like, everyone loves your nails on, you know, when social media first started, it was a six month trial at Conde Nast.
They sent it as an email that we're gonna have a social media editor come. We're gonna see what it's about. They're going to be taking videos and pictures of us for fashion week. And I was like, what is this? You know, Facebook was so personal to everyone. So we had that, we had MySpace during my era, but when Instagram came out, it was uniquely different.
And I don't think that I accepted it in the beginning because I came from a studied background of fashion. You know, I had to, as an intern, I had to work my way up to get to it. But as the years have gone by, I find that social media has really helped the visibility of me. I think I'm one of the stylists that came up during the social media, you know, kind of era in, in a way, in the sense of like celebrity styling and exposure and people really getting to see behind the scenes and what we do.
It's really helped me a lot with my clients. You know, a lot of times people are like, do you pitch clients? Do you do this? No. A lot of my clients have come to me through social media, which I find to be so amazing. A lot of opportunities have come to me through social media.
And I just make the time. I don't, I don't take social media so seriously. Yeah. Like other people, you know, tell you you should. I think it's really fun. I do think there is seriousness to it because of the fact that it is now your resume is a visual resume for people. But I think that the more you have fun with it, the more that people see an authenticity from you that they want to either emulate, wanna be a part of, wanna, you know, figure out how they can infuse it into their, their, their, their, their world.
So yeah, so I just kind of accepted social media and, and, and then use it for my generation or myself based on how I like to, honestly, that's the best way to explain it.
Umindi Francis: That's a jewel and a gem. A visual resume. I mean, I certainly get business from social media. Yeah. Every time I post. Yeah. You know, some company or someone's in Yeah my dm and I don't think a lot of folks realize that. And Yeah. You know, just keep posting, just keep posting and putting yourself out there. Yes. It doesn't matter if three people like it, they're watching. It'll build up over time. Keep going.
So how did it feel to be awarded Designer of the Year in 2022 for Harlem's Fashion World?
Ade Samuel: Uh,it felt great. It's fine. It felt really, really good. You know, Harlem Fashion Row is an organization that I truly respect, especially as a black stylist.
I love what Brandis has been doing for our community of the culture. And also so many legends before me have gotten that award. So just to be recognized, to be given some flowers, especially again, being in a space where I don't often feel respected in, in, in what I've done and, and just kind of the place that I've been in this business. It just felt good to have an organization that I respect, an organization that I see myself as a part of, give me love and it, and it felt really good. My parents were in the room. I was honored with Janet Jackson and Issa Rae, by the way. I couldn't have asked for a better day and, yeah, it was amazing.
Umindi Francis: That's so great. So what's next for you?
Ade Samuel: You're gonna see a lot of, there's so much that's going on with me, that's next. But you're gonna see a lot of me doing a lot of visual, creative visual things. And I say that because I don't necessarily like titles, so you know, I'm not gonna call myself a director or, or this thing or that thing.
I think that what's in my brain, what's in Ade Samuel, according to Ade's world, is just going to start getting unleashed. We're gonna see a little bit more of me being in the background of a lot of creative projects and really, just allowing for all of this to come out. You know, a clothing line and or shoe line is in the works as well, and just more of me, you know, getting to know me.
And I think people have seen that too through my social media. Everyone's like, you don't post your clients like that anymore. You don't post this person. I'm like, no, because I don't want Ade Samuel to just be the stylist that is a stylist for this star, this star, this star. I want Ade Samuel to be a brand that people are inspired by. That's like she doesn't keep herself in a box. I don't wanna be boxed. So that's what you'll see a lot of in the future.
Umindi Francis: Well, I love that. Mm-hmm. Well, you know what? Good luck and keep going. You are gonna keep pushing.
The world is your oyster.
Ade Samuel: It is.
Umindi Francis: You know, but where do we find you Ade?
Ade Samuel: You can find me on social media Ade Samuel. my name on Instagram and or TikTok, which I love now. I'm such a TikTok girl. And online.
Umindi Francis: Okay, great. Great. Thank you so much.
Ade Samuel: Ah, thank you for having me. This is awesome. This is such a beautiful platform, so I'm so excited for you to just see you keep rising and I'm so excited to see all your guests that it's gonna come through.
And this is, you are the perfect person to have a podcast. isn't be interviewing because you're also an icon too. Thank you. So I'm sure she's gonna get to it, but yeah. Yes.
Umindi Francis: Thank you, Ade.
Ade Samuel: Ah, thanks boo. Thanks for having me. This is great.
Umindi Francis: It's an honor. It's an honor. Ah, this was great.
Well, that's it for today with, What's Next Podcast with Umindi Francis. Take care.