The cornerstones of the Fashion industry today have been featured on the most Powerful Women lists of esteemed magazines like Forbes, Fast Company, and Time. Their achievements are indeed formidable and deserve acknowledgment in a time where gender equality across all industries is a global priority.
The following women are leaders in their own right, and their commitment to the Fashion industry deserves the recognition as the most powerful women in Fashion.
Miuccia Prada
This Italian designer needs no introduction. The head designer of the premium fashion house Prada, Miuccia took over her luxury goods family business in 1978. With her taste and intellect, the woman spun the brand from being a modest luxury leather bag retailer into an eponymous ready-to-wear high street fashion empire. Apart from Prada, Miuccia is the brains behind the young and vibrant brand celebrities love to wear, Miu Miu. Her design aesthetics are appreciated globally and with every season the woman tends to give a new direction to the fashion industry. A holder of a doctorate in political science, this esteemed designer is known for her hyper-intelligent and trendsetting designs.
Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour, Editor-in-chief, Vogue, is indeed one of the most valuable assets of the fashion industry today. With Vogue considered as the bible of fashion, it’s a definitive word on fashion. A British-American Journalist, Anna’s command over the industry is such that trends are created and crippled at her demand. Her supremacy can be gauged from the fact that even established designers choose to delay their shows, until the arrival of this mighty influencer. The woman has been in power since 1988, with her being announced as the artistic director for Conde Nast since 2013. Not only known for her verdicts, Anna is also responsible for having shaped the careers of many designers and the industry at large.
Diane Von Furstenberg
DVF is the woman behind the iconic wrap dress. A European princess, the princess of Furstenberg, Diane touched down New York in the early 70’s. Her label DVF retails in more than 75 countries today. With her early designs, Diane represented an independence and power for an entire generation of women. She has retained at her role courtesy of her remarkable efforts and tireless working hours dedicated to the rights of designers and models. Her term was extended by a year last year as a testament to the growth, CFDA witnessed under her strong leadership. Playing mentor to the upcoming designers, DVF has played an important role in shaping fashion and most importantly towards woman empowerment on the whole.
Natalie Massenet
Net-a-porter, the name most synonymous to fashion e-commerce business is the brainchild of Natalie Massenet. Founder of the most globally known shopping website, Natalie can be credited with getting premium designer fashion to the tip of the keyboard, making authentic luxury fashion easily accessible from the comfort of your couch. Rendering the benefit of convenience to her consumer base across the globe, Natalie totally is one of the most powerful fashion entrepreneurs today, who completely changed the way people shopped. Having named as one of the most powerful women by Forbes and Time, Natalie’s efforts deserve to be celebrated.
Gigi Hadid
This 21-year-old American model has seized a place in such an esteemed list, courtesy her exceptional work at such an early age. Gigi Hadid, who started her modeling career with IMG in 2013, was ranked among the top 50 models on Models.com in 2014, and in 2016 earned the International Model of the Year title from the British Fashion Council. Having walked the ramp for all the big designers including Chanel, Versace, Ellie Saab, etc, earning the coveted Victoria Secrets Wings and playing ambassador to brands like Maybelline, Gigi has definitely firmed her standing in the fast pacing glamor world. The woman has been featured on the covers of all the top magazines.
Tory Burch
Named as the 73rd most powerful woman in the world by Forbes in 2014, Tory Burch is a self-made billionaire. Her premium fashion label, Tory Burch, was literally born out of the woman’s kitchen and is today one of the most worn ready to wear brands. She began her journey with her label in 2004 out of a store in Manhattan. The power of her design aesthetics was such that most of her inventory was sold out on day one itself. Oprah Winfrey on her show endorsed and addressed Burch as the next big thing in fashion, and the following day her website was treated with eight million hits. This American fashion designer, businesswoman, and a philanthropist have been rewarded with several fashion accolades.
