The BoF 500 Class of 2025: A Look at Fashion‘s Key Players
Business of Fashion has released its annual BoF 500 Class of 2025, a curated list recognizing 500 individuals shaping the global fashion industry. This year’s list expands the overall BoF 500 community to 1613 people representing 98 nations, solidifying its position as a benchmark for authority and evolution within the fashion system. The individuals are categorized into eight areas: designers, executives, media, retailers, entrepreneurs, creative class, models & muses, and catalysts.
italian Talent Shines
The 2025 class showcases strong Italian representation. in the Creative Class category, Italian-American stylist Julie Ragolia, known for her work with stars like Pedro Pascal and Brad Pitt, is included. The Designer category features four Italian creatives: Simone Bellotti (Jil Sander), Veronica Leoni (Calvin Klein), Stefano Gallici (Ann Demeulemeester), and Giambattista Valli, highlighting a diverse range of styles and interpretations of established fashion codes. The article emphasizes this as a celebration of Italy‘s “concrete prêt-à-porter” and its “vibrant, solid and markedly rich in personality artistic substance.”
New Designer & Muse Highlights
The New Designers category is the largest of the 2025 class, with twenty-five inclusions. Close behind are Models & Muses with twenty-three. Notable names from the recent September/October 2025 Fashion Weeks featured in the list include Julian Klausner (Dries van Noten), Meryll Rogge (Marni), Michael Rider (Celine), Rachel Scott (Proenza Schouler), Magda Butrym, Conner ives, Silvia Tcherassi, and Sinéad O’Dwyer.
Expanding Definitions of Influence
The list also demonstrates fashion’s increasing engagement with other creative disciplines. Alex Consani,a transgender model named “Model of the Year” in 2024,is highlighted within the Models & Muses category. Beyond conventional fashion figures, the BoF 500 includes individuals like dancer Guillaume Diop, tennis player zheng Qinwen, rapper Doechii, and actors Colman Domingo and Zoe Kravitz. The list also recognizes rising influence from diverse geographical locations, featuring models like Mamuor Majeng (South Sudan/Valentino campaigns), Chanel Freen and Becky (Thailand), and key figures like Grace Ladoja (founder of the Nigerian Homecoming Festival), Kyle Smith (NFL’s first fashion editor), and Sebastian Diez (CEO of Inexmoda, promoting Medellín as a fashion hub).
