Business of Fashion founder and editor in chief, Imran Ahmed, rolled out his annual list of #BOF500, featuring fashion industry’s movers and shakers credited with shaping the global fashion industry and once again, several Middle Eastern figures made the cut. Profiling some of the “smartest and most accomplished professionals working in fashion today,” (among them Style.com’s Tim Blanks) and following what BOF explained was a lengthy process of elimination, influencers were slotted into categories that include catalysts, designers, media, retailers, creative class, and models and muses.
Kuwait mentions went to Mohammed Alshaya, executive chairman of Alshaya Group and the man responsible for opening stores for Western retail brands, like H&M and Topshop; Najla Maatouk, founder of the multi-brand boutique Al Ostoura; and Noor Al-Sabah, fashion director and buyer at AlOthman boutique.
From the United Arab Emirates, Khalid Al Tayer, chief executive of retail at the Al Tayer Group and Patrick Chalhoub, chief executive of the Chalhoub Group were named, although there was no mention of Emaar chairman, Mohammed Alabbar, nor Salama Alabbar, fashion entrepreneur and founder of one of the region’s most popular boutiques—Symphony.
Hailing from Qatar are Ahmad Al Sayed, chief executive of Qatar Investment Authority, and managing the nation’s stakes in Harrods, Tiffany’s, and LVMH; HH Sheikha Mozah, chairperson of the Qatar Luxury Group; and Wissam Al Mana, managing director at Al Mana Retail Group, whose portfolio includes brands such as Hermès and Giorgio Armani.
From Lebanon and a newcomer to the list is Desirée Sadek, editor in chief of Elle Oriental; couturier, Elie Saab, also made the list as well as designer, Rabih Kayrouz; actress, Razane Jammal; and chairman and chief executive of the multi-brand store, Aïshti, Tony Salamé.
Representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is Jamila Halfichi, fashion editor at Asharq Alawsat; the owner of D’NA boutique and Style.com Style Map contributor, Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz; as well as HRH Reema Bandar Al Saud, chief executive of luxury retail corporation, Alfa International, and the handbag label, Baraboux; and president of multi-brand retailer, Rubaiyat, Sheikh Abdullah Binzagr.
Finally, from Egypt, owner of Lina Publishing and editor in chief of Pashion magazine, Susan Sabet, has also been named in the prestigious #BOF500 list this year.
In what BOF sets up as a sort of “Olympics” of global fashion influencers, indeed it is a coup to see that the Middle East accounts for 18 global influencers, as opposed to a neighboring fashion powerhouse, Russia, with only 11 influencers. Other emerging markets, Brazil and India, came out with 16 and 23 influencers respectively. Furthermore, not one designer and only one writer (Jamila Halfichi), representing the GCC has been named to the list—a reminder for our ever-ambitious fashion colleagues of the Middle East, that on the global front, we still have a lot to prove.
