In vogue

It's not every day you get to feature in the ‘fashion bible,’ that is Vogue magazine. But that's exactly what happened to Wimbledon postwoman, Karrie Scott.

British Vogue has dedicated its July issue to the millions of key workers who have kept the country running during the height of coronavirus.

The resulting images offer a unique perspective on the extraordinary dedication shown by the millions of people, including colleagues up and down the country, who, throughout this pandemic, have continued to don their uniforms and go to work delivering for customers.

‘From postal workers to midwives, train drivers to supermarket assistants, teachers to cleaners and sergeant majors, these are the people who have kept the cogs of the country turning during its darkest moments,’ said the magazine.

Renowned photographer Jamie Hawkesworth was tasked with shooting four portraits a day over the course of two weeks. After editor-in-chief Edward Enninful dispensed with a brief, simply asking his photographer to ‘just turn up and see what happens,’ Hawkesworth was free to photograph his subjects at their most natural. ‘None of the subjects considered themselves “a hero,”’ he said. ‘But all enjoyed the process. When someone says “hero” you think of superman. But these people were just getting on with their jobs. For them, it was a normal day, Vogue portrait aside.’

When asked for his favourite image, he said it was our very own Karrie (pictured), from Wimbledon Delivery Office. ‘I was setting up my tripod and then a huge movers’ van came around the corner, with what turned out to be her whole family inside,’ he said. ‘They were cheering and got out to take a picture of me, taking a picture of her. As I was leaving, I saw her sorting her post. It feels a bit exaggerated, but it reminds me of the Norman Rockwell paintings of postmen and people, in particular, one called the Jolly Postman, who has all these kids running after him and everything is blowing in the opposite direction.’

Reflecting on the ‘joyous task of capturing the new frontline’ for the July issue, he added: ‘I was on my own, with my tripod, one lens, one camera, and I just got on my bike and cycled around London, spending 15 minutes with each stranger.

‘The sheer simplicity of that – it sounds so weird to say, and I hope not insensitive, but if I am really honest, it was joyous. It was the best two weeks I’ve had in a long time.’

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