From an African American Preacher’s kid who used to sneak to read fashion magazines to a Public Relations career at 3.1 Phillip Lim and, now, R13, Terry Long grew up in a way that seemed like it couldn’t be any more different from New York City – even if Philadelphia was only two hours away. His exposure to the idea of fashion started through the strict upbringing that kept him at church, where, unbeknownst to his family, he found influences and inspirations in unfamiliar ways.

As the elder of two children, he always knew he was different; his interests distinctively differed from those of his family and friends who preferred basketball and any sport while he was curious about the arts.

In 2015, Long started commuting between Philly and NYC to chase his dream. Imagine a kid with a vision from humble means traveling two hours to intern in an unforgiving and never promising city. This was Terry, eager to find a space for himself in the industry he so adored. Today, as Senior Public Relations Manager at R13, he brings your favorite actors, influencers and musicians together.

Fashion, in some ways, brought Long a new sense of community.

“God, don’t leave me in the struggle. Let my life not be in vain. Let me be an inspiration for someone else, and I feel like I’ve done that.”

We spent an afternoon with Terry getting his testimony and going down memory lane to learn about the journey that contributed him to where he is today:

How did you break into fashion?

Fashionista.com! I spent hours looking for jobs on that website and I ended up with three offers ultimately, accepting the paid internship. In 2015, in January, I started as a PR intern at 3.1. Phillip Lim. I absorbed everything from PR to communications to working with the wholesale and e-commerce teams, all within six months. I love to give credit to Caitlin Boyle, who is now the PR manager at Miu Miu. At the time, she was at 3.1 Phillip Lim, and it was one of those situations where you merely had to be on your feet and know your stuff. There wasn’t any time for training, so I absolutely had to learn as I went. After completing my internship at 3.1 Phillip Lim, I was hoping for a full-time role there, but there wasn’t anything open. After that, I freelanced at the CFDA for Sophie Marx and Leigh King in Events right before the annual CFDA Fashion Awards. I was still living in Philly throughout my time at Phillip Lim and the CFDA, so there I was commuting back and forth. When I officially moved to NYC, I worked in retail at Opening Ceremony to stay afloat. Caitlin called one day and said, “I’m leaving Phillip Lim, and we need to get someone in here.” This was only meant to be a 30-day freelance assignment. There was no guarantee that I would remain around after that month ended. After speaking with my mother, she said that if I worked hard for these 30 days, they likely wouldn’t let me go. Once the assignment came to an end, the team at 3.1 Phillip Lim extended the contract, and then extended it again until they offered me the full-time role in April 2016.

What has been your most noteworthy achievement up to this point?

There are two moments — the most recent show with R13, which was actually my second, from the Vogue Review, the top-tier media in attendance, to the artists that I was able to get to attend the show. Shoutout to Kevin McIntosh and Karla Otto for helping make that show a success. I definitely also have to mention Karl Templer, who consulted on everything show related and helped me bring Chris’s vision to reality again. The show was phenomenal, and Cathy Horyn said it was the best collection R13 had ever shown in our history of doing runway shows. Being able to take this cool yet under the radar brand to the forefront and receive special requests from A-List celebrities was the ultimate achievement.

The second moment was when my boss at 3.1 Phillip Lim, Katy Russ, called me into the office and asked if I had a passport. I said, “no,” and she told me I needed to get one ASAP because I was going Shanghai. We were doing a floral installation for Shanghai Fashion Week and I was responsible for dressing all VIPs for the event. Imagine being alone in a showroom in Shanghai and not knowing how to speak the language yet pulling off such a challenging task like this without any serious hiccups.

Have you felt celebrated in your present job or any of your past positions?

Katy Russ, Carolyn Lewis, Phillip Lim and Chris Leba from R13… these people are my tribe. At R13, I’ve been given so much freedom to make things happen. I have the independence to do my job and do it well. The creative freedom I have here is so different from what my friends have at their companies. Being able to elevate a brand in this way is so rewarding. I’m allowed to be my authentic self and give my honest opinion. I’ve been blessed and fortunate enough at all the jobs I’ve had to be myself. I’ve had a reliable support system too. Devan Wallace, Kevin McIntosh, Sandrine Charles and Ayanna Wilks have been so supportive and instrumental, and they aren’t even half the people in my corner. I always said to myself “God, don’t leave me in the struggle. Let my life not be in vain. Let me be an inspiration for someone else, and I feel like I’ve done that.”

Have you felt ignored or left out of an employment opportunity because of the color of your skin?

I am not trying to discredit anyone’s struggle because we all have different journeys, but for me, it was always the total opposite. I feel like being African-American, people saw the value I brought to the table. I think this goes back to what I said earlier about being unapologetically myself. Everyone knew what they were getting when they met me, but they also knew I was bringing my expertise and culture. I did feel valued, and Phillip Lim really understood that. At R13, I’m the head of communications, and I was recommended by Tashon Thompson, my best friend and another African-American male, who is the head of E-Commerce & Digital Marketing at R13.

What should be done for Black individuals in this industry, or what might you want to see for Black individuals in fashion?

We need access, especially for the inner-city kids who don’t have access to the world in which we live. Then there’s mentorship. We need to prepare our Black and brown kids how to operate and thrive in these rooms. I’ve had assistants from all backgrounds, but I always try to make sure I have at least one POC in the room. I’ve had over 25 interns in the last three years, and more than half of them have been people of color. I teach them how to navigate outside of their jobs: Are you able to properly articulate your scope of work? Do you know how to negotiate proper compensation? Are you nurturing relationships with editors and stylists? Are you making connections in other industries outside of just fashion? Mentorship is an essential concept for me.

In your opinion, what is the nature of fashion like for Black people or People of Color?

I think we’re having a moment right now in the sense that people want to do what they can to support our community. I want to make sure this isn’t a short-lived moment and that this will continue. We have some of the most exceptional talents in our community, and I want to see brands keep up this momentum and allyship with us for generations to come.

How have you given back to your community through your position?

I try to pay it forward by hiring Black talent. I remember when I was heading to R13, and I was in the place to hire someone, I hired an African-American male who was also from Philadelphia to fill the PR assistant role at 3.1 Phillip Lim. I always want to make sure that I’m there for my community. I’ve also had tough conversations surrounding race with my employers, and it’s been well-received, especially in terms of understanding what is currently happening.

Are there any Black Designers known or unknown that you would like to bring to the CFDA attention?

I would love to highlight Lionne by LaToia Fitzgerald and a streetwear brand Bellargo Piarge by Tiffany Williams. These are two Philly natives like myself who are working extremely hard to gain exposure for their respective brands! I have to also mention Grace Wales Bonner of Wales Bonner, Martine Rose, Kenneth Ize, Mowalola and Thebe Magugu.

What are some of the things you think the CFDA should do to improve diversity and inclusion?

I believe there needs to be an ally on all levels. Indeed, we have a few on the board but we need that Black coordinator and assistant’s viewpoint…someone who can tell you what it’s actually like working at some of these brands. Speak to some of the Black interns; ask them if they are being treated appropriately. Are they prepped for their first job? If not, what programs, seminars, and workshops are available to make sure we’re preparing the African-American community. The CFDA’s support in hosting these individuals would be incredible.