The Business of Fashion Names 100 New Members to BoF 500 Class of 2026

New class represents 48 nationalities and includes designers, executives, models, athletes, artists and fashion industry leaders

The Business of Fashion (BoF) has announced the BoF 500 Class of 2026, adding 100 new members to its index of people shaping the global fashion industry. The new members are based in 33 countries and represent 48 different nationalities, expanding the full BoF 500 index to 1,713 people from 104 nationalities.

The 2026 class includes designers Dario Vitale, Julie Kegels and Foday Dumbuya, actors Teyana Taylor, Connor Storrie and Zhang Linghe, models and athletes including Eileen Gu, Alysa Liu and Naomi Osaka, and executives such as Francesco Milleri of EssilorLuxottica, Luca De Meo of Kering and Hillary Super of Victoria’s Secret. Musical artists including Aespa and Fakemink are also among the new members.

The new class will be recognised at the annual BoF 500 Gala on Saturday evening at the Shangri-La Paris.

Selection of the BoF 500 Class

The BoF 500 was first created in 2013. New members are selected based on nominations from existing BoF 500 members, intelligence gathered from across the industry and research conducted by BoF editors.

The index includes people working across different parts of the fashion industry, including individuals whose influence extends beyond traditional fashion roles.

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 are divided across eight categories:

• 24 Designers: Dario Vitale, Julie Kegels, Foday Dumbuya, Nadège Vanhée, Colleen Allen, Ulla Johnson, Bobby Kolade, Emma Chopova, Laura Lowena, Daniella Kallmeyer and others.
• 18 Models and Muses: Eileen Gu, Aespa, Naomi Osaka, Alysa Liu, Teyana Taylor, “Lingling” Sirilak Kwong, “Orm” Kornnaphat Sethratanapong, Zhang Linghe, Fakemink and others.
• 15 Media: Kai Cenat, Vanity Fair Editorial Director Mark Guiducci, Dazed China Editor-in-Chief Audrey Hu, Feed Me newsletter writer Emily Sundberg and others.
• 14 Creative Class: Stylist Andrew Mukamal, artist Nadia Lee Cohen, casting director Julia Lange, stylist Micaela Erlanger, hair stylist Mustafa Yanaz and others.
• 10 Executives: Francesco Milleri of EssilorLuxottica, Luca De Meo of Kering, Brigitte Kleine of Khaite, Hillary Super of Victoria’s Secret, Marek Piechocki of LPP Group and others.
• 11 Catalysts: British Fashion Council Chief Executive Laura Weir, SukkhaCitta Founder and Chief Executive Denica Riadini-Flesch, Brazilian Fashion Council President Olivia Merquior, and The Afro Fashion Association Founder Michelle Francine Ngonmo among others.
• 5 Entrepreneurs: Nigo, Founder and Creative Director of Human Made, Billionaire Boys Club and Bape; Meesho Co-founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Vidit Aatrey; Marisfrolg Founder and Chairwoman Zhu Chongyun and others.
• 3 Retailers: Dover Street Market Global Vice President Dickon Bowden, Mytheresa Chief Buying & Group Fashion Venture Officer Tiffany Hsu and Midwest Chief Executive Officer Takenori Osawa.

India Among Countries Represented

India's new BoF 500 members include Bhavitha Mandava, P. Venkatesalu, Managing Director of Trent Limited, and Vidit Aatrey, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Meesho.

The 2026 class also includes new members from China, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.

Among the other members are Chinese figures including 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 Africa group includes Bobby Kolade, Dr. Akin Faminu, Joram Muzira and Michelle Francine Ngonmo. The Middle East and North Africa representation includes Shahd AlShehail, Zainab Alabdulrazzaq, Sarah Hermez and Yasmina El Abd.

The Latin American group includes Augusto Mariotti, Silvia Braz, Olivia Merquior, Carlos Alberto Acosta Hazzi, Alan Bursztyn and Lorena Saravia.

Japan is represented by figures including Nigo, Kazuma Shigematsu, Kiichiro Asakawa, Soshi Otsuki, Takuji Ishihara and Naomi Osaka, while the Republic of Korea is represented by Aespa.

Italy's new members include Dario Vitale, Francesco Milleri, Leo Dell’Orco and Silvana Armani, while France includes Luca De Meo and Arnaud Selve. The United Kingdom group includes Foday Dumbuya, Laura Weir, Dickon Bowden and Nadia Lee Cohen.

Australia's new members include Rebecca Vallance, Latahlia Hickling and Libby Taverner, while Canada's new member is actor Hudson Williams.

The BoF 500 Class of 2026 is presented with support from Amazon Luxury, along with Grey Goose, The Shangri-La Hotel and La Mode en Images.