My name is Philippa Nesbitt.
I’m a writer, editor, researcher, stylist and PhD candidate.
I was born in Calgary, Canada but have spent a great deal of my life hopping around the planet — from Melbourne to Vancouver to Paris — discovering new cultures and embracing the cognitive dissonance that brings about new perspectives and ways of being in the world. My love for fashion and passion for social justice has brought me on a strange journey, finding new ways to bridge my interests and share them with the world.
As a researcher, my interests are grounded in diverse representation in mainstream and luxury fashion. Beginning with an exploration of transgender representation, I’ve developed a body of work that explores different intersections of identity and centred the voices and experiences of those that are often unheard. My MA research on transgender models has been featured in Elle France and exists as a part of the book Fashion, Identity, Image, published by Bloomsbury in 2022. My PhD research expands upon that work, specifically centring the experiences and representations of disabled models working in the North American mainstream fashion industry.
My creative spirit has kept me working in the fashion industry as a stylist, magazine editor and freelance writer. I’ve worked with brands, publications and creatives around the world to produce a diverse body of work. I’ve also developed a podcast called Statements: A Critical Fashion Podcast, which explores often untold aspects of an industry that is equally admired and abhorred.