The Business of Fashion Unveils BoF 500 Class of 2026
The annual index adds 100 new members from fashion, business, culture and creative industries
The Business of Fashion (BoF) has announced the BoF 500 Class of 2026. This year’s class adds 100 new members to the annual index of people shaping global fashion.
The new members come from 33 countries and represent 48 nationalities. As a result, the BoF 500 now includes 1,713 people from 104 nationalities.
The 2026 class covers designers, executives, models, athletes, media figures, creatives, entrepreneurs and retailers.
New entrants include designers Dario Vitale, Julie Kegels and Foday Dumbuya. The class also features actors Teyana Taylor, Connor Storrie and Zhang Linghe.
Meanwhile, models and athletes Eileen Gu, Alysa Liu and Naomi Osaka join the index. Executives Francesco Milleri of EssilorLuxottica, Luca De Meo of Kering and Hillary Super of Victoria’s Secret also enter the class.
Musical artists Aespa and Fakemink are among the other new members.
BoF 500 Recognises Fashion’s Wider Influence
The BoF 500 launched in 2013. Since then, it has recognised people who have a major impact on the fashion industry.
BoF selects new members through several sources. These include nominations from existing BoF 500 members, industry research and global intelligence gathered by its editorial team.
The index also looks beyond traditional fashion roles. It recognises people who influence fashion through media, culture, business and other creative fields.
Imran Amed, Founder and CEO of The Business of Fashion, said:
“At a moment when the world is focused on borders, fashion’s strength remains its openness. The BoF 500 is our annual reminder of that: a community of people from every corner of the world — and every corner of the industry — whose talent and tenacity are shaping what comes next.”
BoF 500 Class of 2026 by Category
The 100 new members represent a wide range of roles across the fashion industry.
Designers: The 24 designers include Dario Vitale, Julie Kegels, Foday Dumbuya, Nadège Vanhée, Colleen Allen, Ulla Johnson, Bobby Kolade, Emma Chopova, Laura Lowena and Daniella Kallmeyer, among others.
Models and Muses: The 18 members include Eileen Gu, Aespa, Naomi Osaka, Alysa Liu, Teyana Taylor, Zhang Linghe, Fakemink, Lingling Sirilak Kwong and Orm Kornnaphat Sethratanapong.
Media: The 15 media figures include streamer Kai Cenat, Vanity Fair Editorial Director Mark Guiducci, Dazed China Editor-in-Chief Audrey Hu and Feed Me newsletter writer Emily Sundberg.
Creative Class: This group includes stylist Andrew Mukamal, artist Nadia Lee Cohen, casting director Julia Lange, stylist Micaela Erlanger and hair stylist Mustafa Yanaz.
Executives: The 10 executives include Francesco Milleri of EssilorLuxottica, Luca De Meo of Kering, Brigitte Kleine of Khaite, Hillary Super of Victoria’s Secret and Marek Piechocki of LPP Group.
Catalysts: The 11 catalysts include Laura Weir, Denica Riadini-Flesch, Olivia Merquior and Michelle Francine Ngonmo, among others.
Entrepreneurs: The five entrepreneurs include Nigo, Founder and Creative Director of Human Made, Billionaire Boys Club and Bape. They also include Vidit Aatrey, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Meesho, and Zhu Chongyun, Founder and Chairwoman of Marisfrolg.
Retailers: The three retailers are Dickon Bowden, Global Vice President of Dover Street Market; Tiffany Hsu, Chief Buying & Group Fashion Venture Officer of Mytheresa; and Takenori Osawa, Chief Executive Officer of Midwest.
Three Indian Leaders Join the BoF 500
India has three new members in the 2026 class.
They include model Bhavitha Mandava and P. Venkatesalu, Managing Director of Trent Limited. Vidit Aatrey, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Meesho, also joins the index.
Together, these additions highlight India’s growing presence across fashion, retail and business.
Global Representation Across the Class
The 2026 class brings together names from fashion markets across the world.
China has several new members. They include Eileen Gu, Audrey Hu, Dan Cui, Julian Song, Shan Yichun, Zhang Linghe, Zhu Chongyun, Ye Shouzeng, Shawna Tao, Samuel Gui Yang and Erik Litzén.
The Sub-Saharan African group includes Bobby Kolade, Dr. Akin Faminu, Joram Muzira and Michelle Francine Ngonmo.
Meanwhile, new members from the Middle East and North Africa include Shahd AlShehail, Zainab Alabdulrazzaq, Sarah Hermez and Yasmina El Abd.
Latin America is represented by Augusto Mariotti, Silvia Braz, Olivia Merquior, Carlos Alberto Acosta Hazzi, Alan Bursztyn and Lorena Saravia.
Japan’s new members include Nigo, Kazuma Shigematsu, Kiichiro Asakawa, Soshi Otsuki, Takuji Ishihara and Naomi Osaka. Aespa represents the Republic of Korea.
Italy’s new members include Dario Vitale, Francesco Milleri, Leo Dell’Orco and Silvana Armani. France is represented by Luca De Meo and Arnaud Selve, among others.
The United Kingdom has new members including Foday Dumbuya, Laura Weir, Dickon Bowden and Nadia Lee Cohen.
Australia also joins the class through Rebecca Vallance, Latahlia Hickling and Libby Taverner. Canada is represented by actor Hudson Williams.
BoF 500 Gala to Celebrate the New Class
The BoF 500 Class of 2026 will come together at the annual BoF 500 Gala at the Shangri-La Paris.
The 2026 BoF 500 is presented in partnership with Amazon Luxury. Grey Goose, The Shangri-La Hotel and La Mode en Images also support the event.
Overall, the new class expands the BoF 500’s global network. It brings together people from fashion, business, media, entertainment and creative culture who are helping shape the industry’s future.
