Claire Sulmers
Founder of FashionBombDaily
What was your path to becoming an editor?
I went to high school at the Westminster Schools of Atlanta then on to Harvard University where I majored in French and African-American studies. I have always loved to write, and I've had journals since I was 9 years old. Writing is one of my favorite hobbies, so it was natural for me to start in a blog in 2006, at the advent of blogging. I kept pouring into my passion, and here I am, 14 years later, with a blog that has become a business and a bastion in the fashion industry.
How and when did you learn to write? Do you think writing can be taught?
I wrote on my own as a hobby but truly learned to perfect it as a freshman at Harvard University. We had a class called Expos and it was very difficult. I learned more about grammar and the technicalities of writing. That said, writing is ever-evolving. People can learn to write from reading great books and from taking classes, but the best way to learn is by doing. Practice makes perfect.
Who are your biggest inspirations within the space?
My biggest inspirations are André Leon Talley, David Sedaris, Tom Wolfe, and Wangari Mathai.
What is your brand’s mission? Who are you seeking to impact?
My brand's mission is to diversify the fashion industry and show that fashion is for everyone. I am looking to make a positive change towards acceptance, inclusion, and respect for the contributions of all, not just a select few.
What is the most challenging aspect of maintaining your particular brand’s voice?
In fashion, there is always an issue of getting credit and giving credit where its due. In the current climate of our country, the narrative of diversity and inclusion, which we have been champions of for over a decade, has been co-opted and reduced into bite sized posts that do a disservice to the movement as a whole.
How has COVID affected your editorial strategy? What is something you’ve learned from this new normal?
COVID has allowed me to truly tap into my creativity and go back to my first love of writing. I have found time to continue writing my new book, write more on my blog, and create more thoughtful work.
What do you think will be the greater impact on journalism?
I think COVID will spawn even more journalists, and the barrier for entry will be lower. Journalists are simply story tellers, and more and more people have the time, topics, and tools to tell their unique tales.
What are you currently reading?
Girl Boss by Sophia Amoruso.
How important is it to have mentors during this new journalistic landscape? Can you describe your ideal mentor relationship?
Having a mentor is great, but not necessary. So many people are focused on self and self promotion that it's hard to find anyone willing to give back. I am very much a do it yourself type of person, so I encourage young people to use what they have at their disposal to get where they need to be. But for me, the ideal mentor relationship would be someone plugged in who wants to see you succeed and doesn't mind opening their Rolodex to help you do so.
Knowing that news breaks on social media, whether it's a new government policy or the latest celeb pregnancy announcement, how does your team use social media to report on the story?
Social Media is the crown jewel of our business and the main tool we use to report on stories. As many of my team are beginning journalists, I am now having to teach the importance of fact checking and story telling. They are learning, slowly but surely.