Janaya Khan is an activist, and an international ambassador of Black Lives Matter.
This Torontonian has an unusual quality about them, they are a perfect amalgamation of pragmatism and relentless hope.
They give the very nebulous idea of “Futurism” roots in the present moment, laying groundwork for the kind of world they hope to live in, not so long from now.
Janaya, while best known for their activism, has had a front row seat to the fashion world, especially as this legacy industry has come to grapple with its history of racism and exclusivity.
Tiffany Reid spoke with Khan in the week leading up to the 2020 presidential election.
It’s been a hell of a year for Janaya, who spent the summer helping to lead demonstrations in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and too many others, and giving inspirational Sunday sermons to hundreds of thousands of viewers on Instagram.
They discussed a paradigm-shifting year, merchandisation of the victims of police brutality and what the fashion industry must do if it genuinely supports an equitable future.
Future of Fashion is a series following Tiffany Reid, Bustle’s VP of Fashion, as she interviews rule breakers in the industry, who are shaking up the status quo in order to create a more inclusive future.