LHARLEY
COLOSSIUM: How’s ending up in the fashion
industry been like for you? Did it come to you
or you had to work your way up?
LHARLEY: I wouldn’t say I came to me like on
a silver platter; I had to work my way up. I
wouldn’t sit here and say it came to me like oth-
er people say they were discovered by others.
I had to go through the process to get here. I’m
not at the top yet but it’s been a journey so far.
CLS: People online these days call themselves
by several titles. How would you define your-
self? What is the Lharley brand?
LHL: People think I am a model but that’s not
what I am. The Lharley brand is a solid brand
established on fashion and style blogging. I’m
also a brands influencer, TV and radio present-
er.
CLS: Fashion and style blogger. Influencer;
sounds like fancy titles, what does it entail?
It appears all you have to do these days is to
have followership of about 10k then change
your bio to ‘Fashion and style influencer’, how
different is that from yours?
LHL: An
influ-
encer is supposed to affect and shape consum-
er behaviors so to speak. To be an influencer
means you have the capacity to affect the way
people perceive things. So to have the ability or
some form of influence on a person or people
effectively, makes you an influencer. That is
what I do, I impact and influence brands. It’s
not just about taking photos and sharing on
social media. It’s about adding value to what
you representing or showcasing. How you
effectively influence brands and people is what
makes you an influencer – good or bad. I re-
member cutting my hair then suddenly almost
every young woman is doing it. For me that’s
positive influence.
CLS: Who are your audiences?
LHL: I will say young and vibrant women who
are aspiring to be great in life. I think that in
this 21st century, women empowerment has
reached that point we can only inspire each
other. More like a sisterhood thing. But I do
have the opposite sex buying into my brand.
CLS: What one fashion statement or practice
do you think should just die?
LHL: Thigh high shorts and sandals with socks.
I think both are just dumb.
CLS:They should just die? Why?
LHL: I think they’re fashion statements that
don’t work for everyone. I mean you can
see someone’s dad wearing thigh high
shorts which mostly don’t work for
them, in my opinion.
CLS:What’s your creative process
like?
LHL: It depends on how I feel
and what project I’m working
on. A lot goes into the creative
process because as someone
who is literally out there all the
time especially on social media,
everything counts especially
how you appear so I ensure that
the right image of me and my
brand is projected out there.