The Most Influential Women in the Fashion Industry
The Most Influential Women in the Fashion Industry
By Akilah Frye
As Women’s History Month comes to an end, it is important to highlight some women who have been extremely influential in the fashion industry as a whole. All have had different paths and contributed to the industry through their respective creativity.
Gabrielle Bonheur, creatively known as Coco Chanel, is a prominent figure in the fashion industry. She got her start in Paris, France when she was recognized in 1910 through her famous boutique. Chanel started making hats, and when her brand expanded she never looked back. Famously known for their classic, chic designs are the Chanel handbags. The first designed handbag was curated in 1929 and started as a clutch.
What is now known as the beloved shoulder bag, which comes in many different colors and sizes, was not designed until 1955 when the concept of a woman carrying a bag on her shoulder was more accepted. Coco Chanel changed the public opinion of shoulder bags and the future of all designer handbags, making Chanel one of the most loved designer brands in the world.
Vera Wang had aspirations of being an Olympic figure skater, but set her sights on fashion after not qualifying for the U.S. team. Originally starting at Vogue, Wang was one of the youngest editors in the magazine’s history. Wang has seen a lot of adversity, and was passed over for editor-in-chief at Vogue seventeen years after she began her editorial career.
Wang saw issues in fashion and wanted to change them. Today, Vera Wang is one of the biggest names in the bridal industry, receiving multiple CFDA honors, like the CFDA Award for Womenswear Designer of the Year, and creating designs for celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Mariah Carey, and Victoria Beckham.
Donatella Versace’s journey to becoming a beloved name in the industry started off with her assisting her brother Gianni, founder of Versace, on frequent visits to Milan in the 1970s. Gianni valued her insights and critiques. Donatella started as vice president of the company in 1978. She used her public relations skills and design direction to lead Versace following the death of Gianni in 1997. Advertising for the brand has grown tremendously over the years and is now known as one of the most prominent brands in the industry.
Michèle Lamy is one of the most unique creatives in the fashion industry. The talented Parisian is known for her collaborative role with her husband Rick Owens in his eponymous brand. Lamy is known for her eccentric fashion sense, which is frequently represented in Rick Owens collections. A businesswoman at her core, Lamy opened Les Deux Café in 1991, which became a hot-spot for A-list celebrities. She moved to Paris with her husband in 2002 and soon after started the infamous brand.
As editor-in-chief of Vogue for 25 years, Anna Wintour has made many strides in the publishing world. Wintour started the practice of featuring celebrities on the cover of Vogue and has featured many unique campaigns. From Oz to Harper’s & Queen, Harper’s Bazaar, and New York Magazine, her extensive resume has easily shaped her into one of the most influential figures in fashion.
One thing all of these women have in common is their ability to break barriers and overcome obstacles. Actions like these are what make the fashion industry a melting pot of creatives who share the same artistic ideals.
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