Elle B. Mambetov

London Fashion Week Designer Elle B Mambetov, founder of fashion line Elle B Zhou, 35, talks to GLAMOUR’s Elle Turner about the racism and corruption she encountered at the hands of the British justice system.

Following spending 2 years unjustly in a foreign prison, the unbelievable story of fashion designer Elle B. Mambetov, is currently being filmed for the new PBS series “American Portrait.” Elle is poised to change the perception of modest fashion into something truly unique and sophisticated with the virtual presentation of her luxury womenswear brand, Elle B. Zhou on May 22nd.

Following the recent relaunch of her luxury womenswear brand in May, African-American Muslim fashion designer Elle B. Mambetov of the label Elle B. Zhou—who spent two years unjustly in a prison in the UK, an experience she wrote about in her book A6347DW: American Captive—spoke with Vogue over email about the role an American Girl doll played in her career in fashion and how she’s rebuilt her label and her life following her imprisonment.

In November 2016, Elle Mambetov was reveling from London Fashion Week high after showcasing her luxury line Elle B. Zhou’s Spring/Summer 2017 collection during the annual event, when her London flat was bombarded by four police officers. Without a warrant, officers arrested Mambetov removing her from her home for good and leaving her flat and the remainder of her belongings.

In 2016, all of Elle Mambetov’s dreams were finally coming true. She was one of London Fashion Week’s fastest-rising stars and, after just two seasons in the limelight, her womenswear label—Elle B Zhou—was tipped as one to watch. When three police officers turned up to arrest her that November, however, the dream turned into a nightmare.