Black Sherif has said his passion for fashion began long before music made him a household name.
The famous Ghanaian artiste reflected on his early style experiments in an interview with a fashion brand in the Netherlands, Patta.
He explained that his first lessons in appearance came during childhood, after his mother moved to Greece and he stayed with his aunt.
“My whole style started in a woman’s closet—my auntie’s. When my mom left for Greece, I stayed with my auntie, and she had all kinds of stylish stuff. I’d sneak into her things, steal belts, and glasses. That’s when I got into appearances,” he said.
Sherif noted that his boldness in fashion often sparked trouble. He recalled being punished for wearing a hairstyle known locally as “backbone.”
“I also tried different hairstyles, like one called ‘backbone,’ and got beaten for it because it was too bold for where I was living. I’ve always been chasing freedom to dress how I want,” he added.
His mother, a seamstress, also played a key role in shaping his creativity with clothing.
“I used to sew my buttons for school. Even in high school, I’d alter my clothes because I couldn’t afford a tailor. If I didn’t like something about a shirt or a pair of sneakers, I’d cut it and make it my own,” he divulged.
That resourcefulness eventually pushed him toward the world of high fashion. In September 2023, he walked the runway for Labrum at London Fashion Week, a moment he described as a turning point.
“As a teenager, I couldn’t afford real designer clothes, so I wore replicas. But now, I get these things as gifts, and I feel like I have a fashion dream that will come true. After walking for Labrum, people told me I was natural at it,” the ‘Iron Boy’ composer revealed.
Despite admitting he questioned his performance, the strong reactions from others convinced him to keep pursuing fashion alongside music.
“I thought I didn’t do a great job, but the reactions were strong. I’m still figuring out my way in fashion, but I believe in it,” Black Sherif posited.
