LONDON, United Kingdom — In compiling the first edition of the BoF 500 in 2013, we canvassed friends from the BoF community around the world, asking them: Whom do you respect? Who is making a difference in your region or country? Who has the potential to be impactful on a global scale? Who is genuinely pushing the industry forward? By the end of this process, we had more than 2,000 names to consider. We began months of intensive research and analysis in order to whittle this group down to a truly inspiring group of fashion industry shapers: the BoF 500.
From blue-chip business titans who helm the industry’s mega-brands to daring young upstarts whose fashion stars are fast rising; from disruptive entrepreneurs building the next wave of $1 billion start-ups to opinion leaders whose points of view attract global followers; from discreet, behind-the-scenes catalysts who spot the industry’s top talents to innovative retailers connecting with consumers in new channels, the BoF 500 invites each of these exceptional talents to join our community, giving them the recognition they deserve and a chance to connect with each other, all around the world — in New York, London, Paris and Milan, but also in São Paulo, Mumbai, Beijing and beyond.
Now in its seventh year, our core vision for the BoF 500 has not changed. Each year since 2013, we have been sourcing and discovering new names to add to our community of people shaping the global fashion industry based on nominations from existing BoF 500 members. This
community — with members represented more than 70 nationalities and based in more than 45 countries — has been an invaluable resource for the BoF team as we sift through hundreds of nominees and conduct research to make sure we are getting a complete picture.
But with the unveiling of
this year’s BoF500, we are introducing one important change. Instead of removing names each year to make room for new talents, going forward we will add 100 new members to the BoF 500 each cycle, resulting in a community that grows stronger and more meaningful over time.
We hope you will enjoy discovering this year’s new class of industry shapers. As you will surely see, no other sector has a cast of characters as passionate, diverse and interesting as those who drive the business of fashion.
Since her modelling career kicked off in 2018, Philip has become a force for representation as the first black trans disabled woman to be signed by a major agency.
With a breakthrough year behind her, scoring campaigns for the likes of Chanel and Marc Jacobs beauty, the-model-turned-creative director is now seeing through her personal mission to promote the beauty of African culture.
The retailer launched her eponymous boutique at the age of 25 and developed it into one of Russia’s first online marketplaces for fashion and luxury goods.
The stylist turned her frustrations with fashion’s outdated moodboard systems into a game-changing start-up.
From dancing at the VMAs to becoming the first black male model to walk for Chanel, the Jamaican-Ghanaian model has been making waves ever since he was scouted on Instagram in 2015.
He is lauded as one of Russia’s most creative talents of recent years, with his brand taking the flashy aesthetics of post-Soviet culture and reforming them with modern tailoring.
The brothers have made it their mission to provide a space for luxury and deliver African design talent to the international market.
The young menswear designer is using fashion as a force for good, outlining the blueprint of a 100-percent sustainable fashion business.
The media mogul, philanthropist and author founded Genevieve magazine, one of the leading lifestyle, fashion and beauty titles in her native Nigeria.
The former Supreme design director and his wife founded the label Noah to combine their talents for clothing and interior design, while emphasising the importance of sustainable products and practices.
The seasoned PR executive has turned her strategic know-how to one of the world’s biggest luxury groups in one of the world’s biggest luxury markets.
In addition to her decades-long career in the music industry, the singer's avid love of couture and outrageous outfits have made her an unexpected icon of fashion week street style.
Since her video calling out Kanye West’s politics went viral in 2018, the buzzed-about rapper artist has used her creative platform to reiterate the socio-cultural origins of hip-hop, and starred in an ad campaign for Calvin Klein.
The director of the Mini Title Agency has made it his mission to support up-and-coming creative talent with a highly sought-after roster of photographers.
Early pioneers in the luxury streetwear space, the co-founders have cemented their positions as key players in London’s coveted streetwear scene.
The casting director has put LGBTQ+ visibility at the heart of his work with his agency that solely represents talent from the LGBTQ+ community.
Tasked by Kering with reviving the Italian brand, his debut collection was hailed by buyers and customers alike and he introduced a successful line of accessories modernising the house’s Intrecciato technique.
Tasked with reviving the near-century-old couture house, his debut collection was hailed by critics as an exciting and fearless ode to the house’s codes of innovation and irreverence.
The underground Harlem couturier of the 1980s returned to prominence after a cultural appropriation scandal led Gucci to finance the rebirth of his business.
The former Oliver Peoples executive was appointed president of The Row in 2016, and continues to lead the luxury label’s global expansion.
One of the highest-paid actors in Bollywood was featured on the April cover of American Vogue and has become a red carpet mainstay by mixing Parisian haute couture labels with homegrown Indian designers.
The financial analyst-turned-entrepreneur founded one of Brazil’s biggest fashion retail success stories with his direct-to-consumer brand Amaro.
The co-founders are pioneering research into natural silk alternatives and received investment from Chanel.
The double Woolmark Prize-winning designer’s unique approach to luxe fabrics and thoughtful tailoring has made him a fast favourite in London’s menswear calendar.
Starting her own company from scratch, the Dutch designer has established the image of 2019’s it-bag and expanded into footwear.
The first female designer to show at NYFW Men’s, her use of thrifted materials evokes a unique nostalgia that has caught the industry’s eye and scored her a spot at Paris Fashion Week.
The inclusive fashion brand established by the serial entrepreneurs brought in $1 million on the first day of its launch campaign and has built inclusivity into its ethos, carrying sizes 00 through to 24.
The recently appointed creative director of Vogue Italia, known for his innovative and modern approach to fashion communication, revealed his first issue for the title in July 2019.
The hairstylist’s work can be seen in the pages of Vogue, i-D and AnOther, and he has led shows and campaigns for Balenciaga, Fendi and Loewe.
The seasoned executive is working to overhaul the long-struggling luxury retail group by doubling down on in-store experience and shaking up its portfolio with a minority investment in reseller Fashionphile.
From marrying Prince Harry in a Givenchy-designed gown to guest-editing British Vogue, the American-born former actress has become a fashion icon and advocate for change the world over.
The seasoned hairstylist has turned the male-dominated profession on its head with her rave scene-inspired, queer-centric aesthetic.
The accomplished model and ‘Pose’ star has used their visibility to foreground the crucial issue of transgender rights.
From the vast, goat-populated plains of Inner Mongolia, the 'cashmere princess' is spinning a winning formula of handcrafted luxury knitwear and strategic business savvy.
Having walked the runway for the likes of Givenchy, Versace and Fendi, he joins only a few models of South Asian origin to break into modelling and has been outspoken about colourism in the industry.
The fashion and sneaker designer’s unique blend of sportswear with grunge solidified his streetwear stronghold, attracting the likes of Kanye West, Beyoncé and Justin Bieber.
The wheelchair-bound model has appeared on the cover of Teen Vogue and is an advocate for equal access and representation in the industry.
The lead vocalist of the ubiquitous K-pop group BTS has drawn the attention of Puma and Dior, marking the house’s first venture into men’s stagewear for a pop band.
The lead singer of K-pop girl group Blackpink, which has worked with Louis Vuitton and Dior Cosmetics for the band’s endorsement deals, is also a front row favourite.
The British photographer’s bleached and digitally manipulated aesthetic has quickly become a new fashion favourite among the likes of Vogue, Gucci and Louis Vuitton.
The entrepreneur switched stocks for shoes, building the world’s first sneaker stock market which was valued at $1 billion this year.
He is championing a global outlook for Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo’s capital attraction.
The Lagos-born designer and LVMH Prize finalist is reinterpreting traditional West African fabrics and Nigerian craft through his eponymous label.
The Haitian-American designer’s brand engages with the past, present and future of the black American experience through personal storytelling and provocative showmanship.
The eBay reseller-turned-fashion entrepreneur has made Korean fashion and beauty a global export with her labels Nanda and 3CE.
The newcomer’s photography talent is quickly redefining Chinese fashion photography and was recognised by China’s Dazed, Harper’s Bazaar and GQ titles.
The Dutch trend forecaster and dean of hybrid studies at Parsons advises fashion companies and brands around the world on their business and sustainability practices.
The executive heads up one of China’s largest luxury e-commerce platforms, which boasts a customer base of 27 million people.
One of the youngest and only prominent black editors in the industry, she has maintained a strong focus on issues of race, politics and inclusive representation throughout her career in fashion media.
The musician is an advocate for body positivity and self-love, making diversity the focus of her music, drawing the support of Marc Jacobs and scoring an Elle magazine cover.
Since founding their namesake creative agency in 2016, the married couple have applied their artistic and strategic know-how to brands such as Zara, Lacoste and Nina Ricci.
Scion of the Prada dynasty, he moved from race car driver to head of marketing and communications, and is tasked with improving Prada Group’s digital strategy and sustainability cred.
Known for his signature lace-up leather brief, the former Balmain embellishment expert launched his label in 2017 and has captured industry attention for his exploration of sex and sexuality through clothing.
The husband-and-wife duo have reinvigorated the house through sharp and precise collections infused with touches of craft and femininity.
The Colombian reggaetón star with more than 45 million Instagram followers has made a bold foray into the global fashion world with his experimental style, striking a partnership with Dsquared2 along the way.
The company president is repositioning the luxury department store chain with a renovation of its flagship 5th Avenue store and investments in its image through events and collaborations with the likes of Off-White and Versace.
The duo leveraged consumer analytics and influencer marketing to elevate an unknown e-tailer into a billion-dollar company that went public in 2019.
Fusing Californian nostalgia with streetwear, he has sold the rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic and expanded his namesake label into a luxury brand with over $40 million in sales, and recent investment from Renzo Rosso’s OTB.
The entrepreneur founded Xiaohongshu, which has become China's most popular social e-commerce app for beauty, fashion, lifestyle and travel, achieving a valuation of over $3 billion in just six years.
The Danish model with Somalian, Ethiopian and Turkish heritage has walked for the likes of Louis Vuitton and Chanel.
Inspired by her Jamaican and Nigerian heritage, the photographer focuses on the subjects of identity and diversity, capturing the attention of British Vogue, i-D and WSJ Magazine.
The Japanese comedian uses her comedy, confidence and size-inclusive fashion line to fight fat shaming and promote body positivity.
Having fronted campaigns for Louis Vuitton and Versace before undergoing hormone therapy, the transgender male model has made a return to fashion with various covers and fashion shows.
He co-founded a venture capital firm that has backed some of the hottest start-ups in fashion’s direct-to-consumer space.
The husband-and-wife team behind one of Denmark’s hottest brands has redefined sustainable fashion and helped put Copenhagen on the map.
The first black editor of a major menswear magazine in South Africa is pushing the boundaries of men's style across the African continent and enriching the region's increasingly diverse media landscape.
A former assistant of Stephen Jones OBE, the British milliner has collaborated with the likes of Mulberry, Erdem and JW Anderson.
The former marketing executive founded the plus-size luxury e-commerce platform addressing the underserved luxury fashion audience sized 14 and above.
The South Korean DJ’s swift rise to fame through her bold sound and equally bold style caught the New Guard Group’s attention with the launch of her label Kirin.
The artist behind infamous record covers has created some of fashion’s most celebrated logos, playing a key role in Burberry’s new brand identity, launched in 2018.
Their size-inclusive brand is realising its eponymous mission to set a new standard for modern fashion tailoring.
The breakout 23-year-old star walked over 40 shows in Spring/Summer 2019 and has graced the covers of i-D, WSJ Magazine, German and Japanese Vogue.
The stylist and creative director is one of the industry’s most influential talents, known for his striking editorial imagery and diverse cultural references.
The Korean designer cut his teeth at Phoebe Philo’s Céline and freelanced at Louis Vuitton and Chloé, before launching his womenswear label that has attracted over 120 global stockists.
The casting director behind Rihanna’s Fenty campaign presents a fresh, diverse take on model representation.
The founder of the world’s most sustainable large-scale denim producer is a champion for building eco-conscious business models from the ground up.
The childhood friends left their careers in finance to grow the global sustainable shoe brand without financial investment, manufacturing more than 1 million pairs of shoes in 2018.
The South Sudanese newcomer model has quickly risen to star status on Models.com’s Top 50 list and embraced by the likes of Gucci, Givenchy and Loewe.
The photographer and filmmaker has turned fashion imagery on its head with her signature use of lo-fi aesthetics inspired by the 1990s and 2000s.
One of the world’s most prolific patrons of the arts has turned her attention to supporting fashion design talent emerging from the Middle East and North Africa.
The Hirshleifer sisters are ensuring the family-run retail business maintains its 100-year old status as a global luxury mecca, putting it on track to reach $100 million in sales.
Under their leadership, Depop has established itself not only as a successful peer-to-peer clothing resale app, but also a cultural force for trend creation and young creativity.
The one-woman force behind the Georgian event has turned Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Tbilisi into a hot ticket attended by an international contingent of buyers and press.
The accomplished writer, columnist and fashion critic has defied ageist preconceptions of influence with her formidable social media presence and following.
The fashion journalist and stylist has dedicated herself to facilitating the fashion system’s awareness of disability dressing for over 20 years.
The renowned contemporary artist and Raf Simons collaborator has ventured into fashion design, turning his personal acid-wash studiowear into a four-category collection.
The executive oversaw Hedi Slimane’s rebrand of the label and introduction of menswear and perfumes, aiming to turn it into a billion-dollar brand.
The Japanese designer was the breakout star at the Autumn/Winter 2019 shows in New York, supported by the likes of Katie Grand and Marc Jacobs.
The Platinum-certified artist has become an influential youth culture style figure, mixing high-fashion labels with streetwear brands.
The breakout star joins the new generation of hijabi models furthering the diversity conversation on and off the runway.
The American design duo is building one of the industry’s top-performing contemporary labels after the popularity of the brand’s single-button blazer.
Starting as an intern in 1987, the designer now oversees the house’s artistic direction as the chosen successor of Karl Lagerfeld, who referred to her as ‘my right arm and my left arm.’
China’s hottest boyband TFBoys has dominated China’s music charts while scoring partnerships with the likes of Bottega Veneta and Adidas.
The American designer has balanced Carolina Herrera’s bold, unmistakable brand DNA with contemporary motifs as he brings a modernising touch to the heritage label.
He is ushering in a ‘new era’ of GQ, reflecting the new fashion-forward menswear boom and replacing suited movie stars with modern style icons.
The founder of one of China’s biggest fashion trade shows has put Shanghai and its designers on the map.
The savvy businessman revived Fila and stands behind one of Gen-Z’s favourite sneakers of the decade.
The first Japanese contestant for the LVMH Prize is also the founder of Coconogacco, a school that challenges the conventions of fashion education.
In addition to her show-stopping looks on and off the red carpet and collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger, the prolific actress has used her platform to push for greater representation in fashion and Hollywood.
The serial entrepreneur founded TikTok, one of the buzziest new apps capturing the attention of Gen-Z worldwide, while his social media conglomerate continues to build wide-reaching platforms.
