South Africans selected for BoF 500 Global Fashion Leader Index
Lucilla Booyzen, director of South African Fashion Week, and Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, founder and executive chair of African Fashion International (AFI), have been elected to The Business of Fashion's (BoF) annual BoF 500 Global Fashion Leader Index, an authoritative index of the professionals shaping the $2.4tn global fashion industry.
Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, founder and executive chair of African Fashion International and Lucilla Booyzen, director of South African Fashion Week. Source: Supplied
The BoF 500 was launched in 2013 and is regarded as an authoritative index of the professionals shaping the $2.4tn global fashion industry.
As the name suggests, the index began as a list of the 500 most influential people in the global fashion industry, but BoF has annually added new names to the ever-growing group which now includes 1,193 people representing more than 70 nationalities, based in more than 45 countries. According to BoF, the 2022 additions form the most diverse and global index cohort to date.
The 103 new additions to the index were announced on 30 September and was celebrated at a gala event in Paris on 1 October 2022.
Other new members to the index from the African continent include Adama Ndiaye, founder of Senegal’s Dakar Fashion Week; Nigerian designer Adebayo Oke-Lawal of Orange Culture; SoleRebels founder Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, Claudia Lumor, Glitz Africa chief executive and editor-in-chief; content creator Khaby Lame; Laureen Kouassi-Olsson, founder and chief executive of Birimian Ventures; Karim Tazi, founder and chief executive of Marwa; and model and photographer Malick Bodian.
Those who make the list are hand-picked by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations received from current BoF 500 members as well as thorough data analysis and research.
Introducing the #BoF500 Class of 2022: Our editors have selected 103 new members to add to this influential global community based on their leadership, creativity, innovation and impact. https://t.co/FwvUErQx3I pic.twitter.com/vTSir3dNrw
— The Business of Fashion (@BoF) September 30, 2022
Booyzen and Moloi-Motsepe now join fellow South African members forming part of the index, including Johann Rupert, chairman of Richemont; Khanyi Dhlomo, founder of Ndalo Media; Nkosiyati Khumalo, editor of Apple Music South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa; Hanneli Rupert, owner of Merchants on Long and Okapi; Ian Moir, group chief executive officer of Woolworths; Alice Heusser and Olivia Kennaway, cofounders of Lalesso, and Adrian Joffe, president of Comme des Garçons and Dover Street Market.
“I am deeply humbled and grateful to be invited to join this exceptional circle of global fashion industry leaders. I truly regard this as the pinnacle of my personal and life-long dedication to carving a place for South Africa’s creative talent on the world stage,” commented Booyzen.
Moloi-Motsepe commented, “It is an honour to be recognised for the many years of behind-the-scenes work. This is a recognition of all the people at AFI who do the work and our passion for Africa. As a leader, my goal is to develop the vision and purpose for the team and industry.
“To be considered an influential figure in global fashion is an acknowledgement of AFI’s efforts to establish Africa as a strong player in the industry, and it is also a testament to the incredible talent of the pan-African designers affiliated to the brand.”
