I love the British accent. How long have you lived here?
I’ve been in New York for five years, and I would like to stay, but I have to apply for a visa extension. It’s quite stressful.
Are you afraid your request will be denied?
You never know. My company, the fashion line Bess, has to prove that I’m necessary.
Are you necessary?
I think so! People need someone they can trust in my line of work, and being British is sort of helpful in that regard. I don’t know why, but especially working with Canadian, American, and Japanese clients, it pays off.
It’s the accent.
That’s crazy.
Do you always wear so much black?
My fashion sense is generally influenced by my environment. We call our office “the dungeon”—the vibe is very goth and grunge and grime and older punk New York. When I wake up in the morning, I gravitate toward black.
Interview by Emma Rosenblum