Annually, Business of Fashion publishes their established BoF 500 list of influential people shaping the global fashion industry. The list serves as a diverse index of fashion talent that define leadership, creativity, innovation and social impact, consisting of models, designers, executives, entrepreneurs, retailers, media, muses and creators.
The BoF 500 index was established in 2013.
This year’s BoF 500 cover stars included Miuccia Prada, Marc Jacobs, Sarah Burton, and Satoshi Kondo. Further leading designers included Dario Vitale at Giorgio Armani and recent LVMH prize winner Julie Kegels.
Standout models in the list included Bhavitha Mandava, Awar Odhiang, Paloma Elsesser, and Winnie Harlow. With athletes becoming more influential in fashion, Business of Fashion included American figure skater Alysa Liu, Chinese-American skier and model Eileen Gu, and Japanese professional tennis player Naomi Osaka.
Leading industry roles included 364 designers, 240 members from the creative class, 231 models & muses, 211 executives, 179 media members, 156 catalysts, 112 retailers, and 94 entrepreneurs.
Home countries of members proved diverse, with 396 members from the United States, 232 from the United Kingdom, 142 from France, 117 from Italy, 116 members from China.
Female representation took a small lead at 52%, with male representation at 48%. A large portion of the BoF 500 Class of 2026 were 52% millennials, with runners up Gen X at 23%, Gen Z at 20%, and 5% Baby Boomer representation.
If it’s written in the stars, a majority of members star signs included Gemini, Scorpio, Libra, Cancer and Aquarius.
View BoF 500 Class of 2026
Image Credits: Business of Fashion
Marc Jacobs “I Don’t Think that the Creative Is to Blame”
In Marc Jacobs emotional BoF 500 interview with CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Business of Fashion, Imran Amed, he shares his perspective on the ever-changing creative director shifts, the pressures of the luxury industry, and his brand’s major transition.
Jacobs argues that non-creative executives and corporate managers make the fundamental mistake of swapping creative directors when there is a business slump or a drop in sales. He taps into a larger crisis that mirrors global instability within the industry, emphasizing that creativity isn’t a light switch that managers can suddenly flip.
“I see a bunch of non-creative people thinking that this all hangs on a creative person, and I think it’s just a big mistake. There’s a world that’s in trouble, so why shouldn’t fashion be affected by it?”
Making progress within a fashion label requires the appropriate time, resources, skilled manufacturing partners, and teams that can turn a vision into commercial success.
“You do your best to trust your instincts and go with your instincts in the gut, because the desire to make something is so big, it can overcome all the rest.”
When asked about the long-term legacy Marc Jacobs would like to leave behind, he responded with, “Do I do this because of what I’m going to leave behind? No, I’m doing it because I enjoy working on a collection. I enjoy being actively engaged in making something great.”
The interview further followed the massive structural milestone happening with his namesake brand, as LVMH sold the brand to new owners WHP Global and G-III Apparel Group in September 2026. The acquisition marks an end to Jacob’s nearly three decade tie to LVMH, with a total transaction value around $925 million.
WHP Global and G-III Apparel Group co-own the Marc Jacobs intellectual property 50/50 and share profits equally. WHP Global will manage global licensing growth for the label, while G-III Apparel Group will manage global business operations of wholesale, retail and e-commerce, and provide support services.
Marc Jacobs remains with the brand as the lead designer, Founder & Creative Director, continuing to guide the creative direction of runways and collections.
Watch the Full Marc Jacobs x BoF Interview
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