Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
PARIS — Since 2013, BoF has gathered a global community of fashion’s most influential people — recognised for their leadership, creativity, innovation and impact — across eight categories: Designers, Executives, Media, Retailers, Entrepreneurs, Creative Class, Models & Muses and Catalysts.
On Friday, amid the hubbub of Paris Fashion Week, The Business of Fashion (BoF) and Amazon Luxury Stores came together to celebrate The BoF 500 Class of 2025.
Hosted at La Fantaisie in the 9th arrondissement, BoF’s Imran Amed and Amazon Fashion’s Jenny Freshwater welcomed the newest members.
Guests included creative directors Julian Klausner of Dries Van Noten, Rachel Scott of Diotima, Stefano Gallici of Ann Demeulemeester and Veronica Leoni of Calvin Klein, alongside stylists like Julie Ragolia and Brian Molloy, who chatted with entrepreneurs like Margaret Kleveland of Dôen.
Meanwhile, industry veterans like artistic director Edward Buchanan met emerging design talent like Connor Ives and Patricio Campillo, models and muses like content creator Wisdom Kaye, Kim Russell, creator behind the Kimbino, and actor Tara Emad chatted to creative class inductees like NFL fashion editor Kyle Smith, Homecoming Festival founder Grace Ladoja and illustrator Annie Choi, known for her whimsical animations for Loewe and Hermès.
During the intimate brunch, Imran Amed, founder and editor-in-chief of The Business of Fashion, addressed the assembled guests: “It’s a challenging moment in fashion. But when I speak with all of you, when I read your stories, when I hear about the hard work that you’re doing, [...] it’s amazing to see the kind of impact that this industry can have, not just as a business, but also in the world at large.”
“The work that you’re all doing is really important, to maintain the vitality of the future of fashion,” he added.
Amed’s words resonated as the industry continues to navigate immense disruption, the latest BoF 500 members reflect the global change-makers driving both creativity and innovation in the wider cultural and creative landscape.
“Year after year, BoF 500 celebrates fashion’s forward-thinkers — those bridging heritage with innovation,” said Jenny Freshwater, vice president of Amazon Fashion & Fitness. “And today’s fashion leaders embody adaptability. With trend cycles moving faster than ever, building a distinctive style — whether personal or as a brand — takes real staying power and flexibility.”
“This mirrors our vision for Amazon Fashion & Fitness. We’ve spent years [working] to build a home for hundreds of thousands of brands that serve every customer, from value-conscious shoppers to luxury connoisseurs,” she added.
New inductees shared their reflections on what it means to join the BoF 500 community at a time of great flux.
“I’ve been in the industry for so long and it’s never been as open as it is now. To have [entities] like BoF championing this is very important — especially now,” said Rachel Scott, Diotima founder and creative director, and newly appointed creative director of Proenza Schouler.
Bella Freud, fashion designer and host of her hit podcast Fashion Neurosis, echoed the importance of that support, given how easy it can be to feel isolated in the fashion industry. “So when people include you in a sort of vote of confidence, it feels good — and a truly global community.”
“What’s nice is telling the stories of fashion that, for some reason, don’t often get asked about — I really love that,” she added. “I know I can tell stories, and [with] so many left untold, I just felt I had to try and tell them.”
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That drive to uncover and share overlooked narratives was echoed by Edward Buchanan, Milan fashion director for Perfect magazine and the founder of knitwear label Sansovino 6.
He reflected on the significance of storytelling and representation in fashion today: “The Andre Walkers, the Tracy Reeses, the Gordon Hendersons — these were the American designers that I looked up to when I was a young kid at Parsons [New School] and many people don’t know those stories,” he said. “There’s millions of young people that can relate to those stories, as I did — and as they’re relating to mine.”
“It’s [about] creating spaces for others,” said spatial and set designer, Ibby Njoya. “We live in a time where everybody’s afraid of everything and I think leaders and innovators are those who are not afraid to ask questions and push boundaries.”
“And it’s a big space,” she added. “There’s so much room for everybody.”
“There are no borders or boundaries when it comes to what fashion touches,” agreed Kyle Smith, fashion editor at NFL. “My players wear clothing from everywhere; our fans, American football fans, come from everywhere. Being part of a global community feels right and aligns with my values.”
Actor Tara Emad spoke to the privilege of representing her country on the BoF 500. “[It is] a very shining moment for me as an Egyptian, as someone who is proud to be representing my country, representing girls who want to succeed, who want to shine [...] because they’ve worked really hard to get where they are,” she said.
“This is the first recognition we’ve had on a truly global scale, which feels so exciting,” said Margaret Kleveland, co-founder of Californian brand Dôen. “To be in such great company — of people who have been cultural leaders and industry icons for decades — and to be considered with them — is the biggest honour.”
Linda Anggrea, chief executive of Modinity Group — a collection of modest fashion brands with a global reach — added: “As a modest fashion representative, we are now being included as a part of fashion as a whole, which is very important for me. It makes me really believe that we can really go far with our values, our needs. [...] In the future, [I hope] everybody has the same opportunity to be a part of the global fashion movement.”
Ahmed Hassan, the founder of Saudi Arabian brand KML, spoke to the greatest opportunities for fashion’s leading creatives, innovators and executives — creating relevance and cultural resonance for audiences that is distinguished from an “international feel”.
“We are starving for differentiation. We need to do something that is relevant to ourselves and our cultures, and I think this is [where] the future is hovering — around there,” said Hassan. “People want something that is true to themselves. So now you see a lot of designers coming back to their origins, their heritage, and they’re developing on that. We are trying to bring back forgotten traditions and we are discovering that it’s quite a difficult task.”
Songmont founder Song Fu reflected on finding success in celebrating the cultural references of her native China. “In the past, many Chinese brands [have] not really wanted to focus on the local story, people or culture, so they are thinking of the Western world. For us, we understand who we are and feel we need to have the confidence to represent our culture. We are focused on my hometown, the colours, the nature, the people, the culture.”
For Stefano Gallici, creative director of Ann Demeulemeester, induction to the BoF 500 serves as a reminder of the industry leaders’ impact.
“Since I was a student, I was following, year by year, the BoF 500. It’s always something I look up to, always something that I dreamed of and chased,” he said.
“I think the greatest message that we can send is to try to be more socially aware and sensible with where the world is going,” he said. “Because at the end of the day, we have a louder voice than many others in our industry — we can make a difference.”
The BoF 500 2025 is made possible by Presenting Partner Amazon Fashion, and partners The Shangri-La Hotel, La Fantaisie, La Mode en Images and Getty Images.
This is a sponsored feature paid for by Amazon Fashion as part of a BoF partnership.
