-
Shop
- High Summer 24
- Autumn Winter 24
- High Summer 24
- Collection
-
Explore
- Borgo Women
- The Muse Project
- About Us
PHOTOGRAPHY BY REBECCA REID
We are thrilled to have the opportunity to chat with the acclaimed author Emma Dabiri. Born to a Nigerian father and an Irish mother, Emma’s journey took her from Atlanta to Dublin at the tender age of 4. Throughout her childhood, she often grappled with feelings of isolation and being ‘othered’. Yet, it was these very challenges that helped Emma discover her powerful voice. She has transformed her early adversities into a beacon of inspiration and empowerment for countless individuals. Her enduring influence continues to uplift and motivate others, highlighting the remarkable extent of her impact.
Today, Emma Dabiri stands as a significant figure in contemporary discussions on race, identity, and gender. Her first book, ‘Don’t Touch My Hair,’ published in 2019, received widespread acclaim for its groundbreaking perspectives. And since then, she has gone on to author three more wonderfully stimulating books.
Dabiri’s eloquent and incisive commentary on womanhood, race, colonialism, and cultural issues has made her a sought-after speaker and broadcaster. In her latest book, ‘Disobedient Bodies,’ she challenges modern beauty standards and explores the deeper roots of female empowerment, urging women to rethink how our beauty and strength are defined.
We are thrilled to delve deeper into the insights and experiences of such an extraordinary woman.
Can you describe the moment you decided to write your first book, “Don’t Touch My Hair” and the emotional process of getting it onto paper?
It emerged out of a lifelong relationship with my hair. I wrote it over a three year period but it was something I had been thinking about for most of my life.
How do you see the relationship between literature and social change, particularly concerning issues of race, feminine power and identity?
I think the greatest truths and insights about the human condition can be explored in fiction. I think literature and storytelling are one of the most galvanising and powerful forces for social change in the world.
In your new book ‘Disobedient Bodies’, you deep-dive into the cultural factors and moments in history that influence our perception of beauty. What does beauty mean to you? And how can we find it in ourselves?
I finish the book with these words: When beauty is expanded beyond a shallow physical understanding, it has the potential to be the source of immense pleasure. It has the potential to transform the world. Indeed, it reminds us that beauty is (in the words of Toni Morrison) ‘an absolute necessity . . . not a privilege or an indulgence . . . not even a quest . . . it’s almost like knowledge, which is to say, it’s what we were born for’.
How do you incorporate elements of your personal experiences into your academic work and storytelling?
Many of my academic interests were sparked by my own experiences as well as my sense of curiosity about the world around me, so their inclusion in my writing often provides the context for why I’m interested in certain things.
How has growing up in Ireland influenced your style and creative identity?
Hugely, I come from a nation of storytellers.
What do you feel when you wear the Borgo de Nor collections, and how does it impact your sense of self?
I love the collections, they are both often bold and assertive, feminine and ethereal. I love the complexity. I am very much a dresses girl, but I absolutely love the Borgo de Nor trouser suits, of which I have a couple, they feel no-nonsense and glam but also elegant and pretty. They are giving sexy and assertive.
Does your fashion and beauty identity change between your home and work life?
I’m usually glam or just dressed in a tracksuit or sportswear, not much in between, I do often like to wear something fun or slinky to write in as it heightens my mood!
How do you see the intersection of fashion and identity in your personal and professional life?
As I write in Disobedient Bodies ‘As far as I’m concerned, the more holistic my work, the richer it is – and the more I can create atmosphere in material ways, be it through dress or my surroundings, the more it infuses my writing’.
How would you describe the feeling you get from Borgo de Nor in three words?
Assertive, glamorous, confident.
