The Progress 1000: London's most influential people 2015 - Trendsetters

Alasdhair Willis: Creative director, Hunter Original
Rebecca Reid
18 September 2015

Natalie Massenet

Entrepreneur and British Fashion Council chair

Fashion editor turned multi-millionaire Massenet is walking away from the luxury e-tailer she founded 15 years ago with a cool £100 million after merging it with Italian discount site Yoox.com. The newly named Yoox Net-A-Porter Group includes sports and beauty channels as well as glossy style magazine Porter. Massenet, a Californian who lives in west London with her two daughters, will soon complete a three-year term as chair of the British Fashion Council.

Ground-breaking entrepreneur: Natalie Massenet Matthew Lloyd/Bloomberg via Getty 
Getty

JW Anderson

Designer

Jonathan William Anderson has had a busy few years: updating Spanish giant Loewe in Madrid and simultaneously growing his eponymous label in Dalston. The Northern Irish designer takes inspiration from obscure sub-cultures and prefers a genderless approach to design. His 2012 collaboration with Topshop was said to be the most commercially successful in the store’s history.

Sarah Burton

Designer, Alexander McQueen

Lee McQueen’s protégée is credited with transforming the house of McQueen into a luxury fashion super force. A major player in Paris, as well as in the wardrobe of the Duchess of Cambridge, the brand has blossomed in the royal wedding dress designer’s care. Burton was awarded an OBE and has two daughters with husband David Burton, the photographer.

Simone Rocha

Designer

Having studied in her native Dublin and then at Central Saint Martins, John Rocha’s daughter unveiled her debut collection under Lulu Kenn edy’s Fashion East initiative in 2010 and went on to open a pop-up store within retail space Dover Street Market. Her customers include Keira Knightley and Alexa Chung. She recently collaborated with LA denim brand J Brand and became the latest British designer to open a debut store on Mount Street.

Simone Rocha Dave Benett
Dave Benett

Christopher and Tammy Kane

Designers

Remains London Fashion Week’s star attraction. Kane’s secret weapon is older sister Tammy, with whom he works closely. The Renfrewshire-born duo now enjoy major financial backing from luxury conglomerate Kering. Former Stella McCartney vice president Sarah Brooks was appointed chief executive last year.

Roksanda Ilincic

Designer

Serbian-born Ilincic is revered for her clever use of colour and easy to wear shift dresses. A creator of childrenswear and swimwear as well as a popular ready-to-wear line, she was aided by minority investment from Eiesha Bharti Pasricha, a businesswoman and wife of Ennismore chief executive Sharan Pasricha. Ilincic bucked a trend in becoming the first of her generation of London designers to open a standalone store.

London's finest: Roksanda Ilincic Nick Harvey/REX Shutterstock

Ruth Chapman

Co-founder, Matchesfashion.com

Along with husband Tom, Chapman began selling luxury fashion from her home in Wimbledon in the late Eighties. Together, the couple run five boutiques across London but recently rebranded them with “.com” to reflect a global online presence. This year the brand launched Raey — its own label.

Stella McCartney

Designer

This ethical fashion queen is the brains behind a successful womenswear line, a sportswear range, childrenswear, lingerie, skincare and the upkeep of four young children. Appreciated for her understanding of the wardrobe needs of a modern woman, Sir Paul’s daughter lives in west London with style guru husband Alasdhair Willis. Last year she created a Green Carpet collection in collaboration with Net-A-Porter and supported by Anna Wintour.

Alexandra Shulman

Editor, British Vogue

Over two decades into her tenancy at British Vogue, she has expanded her remit to include successful digital offshoot Vogue.co.uk. Shulman is an intellectual with a love for shoes. “I feel incredibly popular,” she joked, as British Vogue passed two million fans on Facebook. Shulman’s recent achievements include enticing John Galliano to be interviewed live on stage at the Vogue Festival.

British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman (Picture: Roger Askew/REX)
Roger Askew/REX

Belinda Earl

Style director, Marks & Spencer

The former chief executive of Debenhams and Aquascutum was enlisted by the high-street stalwart to revive its failing fashion offering. Three years into the job and Earl’s clean, no-nonsense approach to design has paid off with sales on the up for the first time since 2011. A Seventies-inspired suede skirt, which was among the most coveted pieces on the high street in April, was Earl’s trump card. In autumn, the store will launch a dynamic new range of coats.

Charlotte Tilbury

Make-up artist

Mossy’s make-up artist hit the big time in 2013 with the launch of her own line of cosmetics. Today the flame-haired maestro who has countless Vogue covers to her name as well a successful beauty business is something of a household name. Her star products include Rock and Kohl eyeliner — a favourite with Kate Moss — and cult backstage skin saviour Charlotte’s Magic Cream.

Penny Martin

Editor of Gentlewoman

The thinking women’s style title, Gentlewoman — launched by Fife-born Martin in 2010 — is both a feminist publication and a must-read for those who like their fashion reading to come with an intelligent spin. Martin’s magazine prioritises editorial over advertising revenue. Cover stars have included Beyoncé, Adele, Phoebe Philo and Angela Lansborough.

Jourdan Dunn

Model

Dunn made her name after becoming the first black woman in more than a decade to walk in a Prada show and has now walked for a host of the world’s top designers. Dunn loves food and presents a cooking show on Jay Z’s internet channel. The Victoria’s Secret model is soon to launch a childrenswear line with Fluid World. She became a charity ambassador for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America after her son Riley was diagnosed with the condition.

Future childrenswear designer: Jourdan Dunn. David M. Benett/Getty
David M. Benett/Getty

Suzy Menkes

Editor, Vogue international

Now a regular on staff at Vogue.com, fashion scribe Menkes swapped The International Herald Tribune for the online world last year. A keen Instagram user, Menkes continues to prioritise the most talented of designers and has a shrewd eye for original designer. A front row stalwart, she is recognisable by her trademark quiff.

Phoebe Philo

Designer

Minimalist Philo presents one of the hottest shows on the Paris Fashion Week schedule but is happiest away from the limelight. A mother of three, she splits her time between London and the new Celine HQ in Paris and is married to arts dealer Max Wigram. Studied at Central Saint Martins alongside friend and former design partner Stella McCartney.

Tom Ford

Designer

Despite relocating his womenswear show to LA, Ford remains the slickest designer in the capital and continues to work from his company HQ in Victoria. The former Gucci designer also has a major flagship on Sloane Street. Ford and his partner Richard Buckley have a young son, Alexander, and have expressed plans to educate him in London. His style inspiration is the Hollywood heyday of Cary Grant.

Tom Ford Matt Baron/BEI/REX
Matt Baron/BEI/REX

Caroline

Rush Chief executive, British Fashion Council

She has made it her mission to transform London Fashion Week into a big hitter to rival Paris and Milan. The transformation of the British Fashion Awards into a glittering, internationally renowned and well-attended event is among her most recent achievements. Rush is relocating LFW from its home at Somerset House to Soho.

Sophia Neophtitou

Stylist, editor in chief 10 Magazine

An infectious laugh and a shrewd understanding of what constitutes modern day sex appeal has ensured magazine founder and stylist Neophtitou an extensive book of clients. She is the stylist behind the annual Victoria’s Secret show as well as the hidden weapon behind designers Antonio Berardi and Roland Mouret. Known for her affection for Alaïa sandals and tight black curls, the Greek goddess is also president of the British Fashion Council’s Reputation Pillar — designed to increase the industry’s overseas presence.

Kate Moss

Model and designer

The 41-year-old super model remains hot property where luxury brands are concerned — and gossip fodder, as her recent run-in with EasyJet confirmed — and enjoys lucrative contracts with the likes of Burberry and Matchless. A contributing editor at British Vogue, Highgate resident Moss recently turned her hand to styling.

Kate Moss Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Dylan Jones

Editor, GQ, and chairman, London Collections Men

The godfather of British menswear, Jones is the chairman of London’s hugely successful menswear-only fashion week. Along with a team of industry insiders, Jones has proved pivotal in the growth of London Collections Men into a global event. Jones worked at ID, Arena and a number of newspapers before arriving to take on GQ some 16 years ago.

Emilia Wickstead

Designer

The daughter of a fashion designer, New Zealand-born Wickstead was raised in Milan and worked for the likes of Armani before decamping to the capital. Her brand, which began as a bespoke atelier, counts Samantha Cameron and the Duchess of Cambridge as key customers. Last year she opened a store on Sloane Street. Functional occasionwear for the modern woman is her label’s USP.

Jonathan Saunders

Designer

The Scottish print expert is currently benefiting from a cash boost from fashion investor Eiesha Bharti Pasricha who bought a stake in his business in January. Revered for its clever approach to colour, Saunders’s label is a one-stop shop for statement dresses. His celebrity customers include Pixie Geldof and the Duchess of Cambridge.

Naomi Campbell

Model

Despite a job planning charity fashion shows and involvement in modelling TV show The Face, Streatham’s finest export proved that she still has time for her day job this year with the launch of a major Burberry campaign in which she stars alongside Jourdan Dunn. No stranger to confrontation, Campbell is outspoken on a host of current affairs and has been crucial in the fight against racism in the fashion industry.

Streatham-born supermodel: Naomi Campbell. David M. Benett/Getty Images

Katie Grand

Stylist and Love, editor

Super-stylist Grand has fingers in fashion pies across the globe as a long-time collaborator with Marc Jacobs. The gap-toothed beauty has a strong affection for Prada coats. Combines that with editing Love magazine for Condé Nast after making her name with her own title Pop.

Georgia May Jagger

Model

The daughter of Jerry Hall and Sir Mick Jagger has starred in campaigns for Chanel, Hudson jeans and Rimmel. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Jagger is the face of Thierry Mugler’s cult Angel fragrance and recently joined her sister Lizzie and brother James in a campaign shot for The Sunglass Hut.

Sharmadean Reid

Businesswoman

A former sportswear stylist, Reid opened Dalston nail emporium WAH in 2009 and is widely credited with pioneering the trend for nail art. Her successful cosmetics line is distributed through Boots and is well on its way to becoming a global brand. Reid is vocal on feminism and the importance of women in business. She splits her time between London and her home town of Wolverhampton.

Sharmadean Reid Adrian Lourie
Adrian Lourie

Mary Katrantzou

Designer

A Greek designer with affection for maximalism, Mary Katrantzou caught the eyes of the Vogue Fashion Fund judging panel earlier this year and banked £200,000 for her business. Has recently collaborated with Matchesfashion.com and enjoys a partnership with US store Bergdorf Goodman.

Lulu Kennedy

Talent scout and designer

The brains and beauty behind non-profit fashion initiative Fashion East, Kennedy has launched a host of London designers including Henry Holland, Richard Nicoll and Jonathan Saunders. In 2013 she was chosen by M&S to star in their Leading Ladies campaign and designed a collection for their Indigo line in May. In 2012 she was awarded an MBE for her services to fashion.

Lulu Kennedy Dave Benett
Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Craig Green

Designer

In just a few short years Central Saint Martins graduate Green has grown a label that’s the toast of the fashion world and is enjoying a position in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art where it features in the Anna Wintour-approved China exhibition. Arguably the most exciting menswear designer in the capital, Green hit the big time in 2014 with an innovative collection which moved critics to tears. His debut show won the ultimate compliment: criticism from the Daily Mail.

Alasdair McLellan

Photographer

Yorkshire-born McLellan’s career in photography began when he was given a Halina camera for his 13th birthday. He has rarely looked back since and counts some of the world’s most prestigious magazines, including Vogue and i-D, as his employers. Inspired by the work of Corinne Day and David Sims, McLellan’s work is firmly rooted in reality. He prefers to shoot on film rather than digitally and regularly does ad campaigns for the likes of Louis Vuitton, Armani and Calvin Klein.

Luke Day

Stylist and editor, GQ Style

British fashion’s hardest-working menswear stylist has worked on some of London Collections Men’s biggest shows and campaigns for M&S and Topman. Day, who was brought up between London and Australia, is the long-term stylist for Take That. After spells at Attitude and Arena he was appointed editor at GQ Style earlier this year.

Malaika Firth

Model

With catwalk appearances for everyone from Chanel to Jonathan Saunders under her belt, Kenyan-born London model Firth is well on her way to modelling superstardom. The 21-year-old stormed into the international spotlight when she was picked to walk by Miuccia Prada. The Barking girl is also a Victoria’s Secret model.

Susanna Lau

Blogger

Better known as Susie Bubble, Lau is arguably British fashion’s most successful blogger and enjoys some 250,000 Twitter followers. She combined an extensive knowledge of fashion with savvy business know-how to create a website that has gained huge respect. A regular on the front-row, Lau is tireless in her support of innovative breakthrough talent.

Charlotte Stockdale

Fashion director and style consultant

A poster woman for “slash” careers, super stylist Stockdale is creative consultant at Fendi, style editor at Jo Malone, fashion director of biannual glossy Garage and founder of styling consultancy Chaos Fashion. A former student of Heathfield, she splits her time between London and her home in Greece. She is married to the artist and designer Marc Newson.

Alasdhair Willis

Creative director, Hunter Original

Brand guru Willis is the man charged with transforming a one-time Scottish welly boot brand into a global phenomenon. The husband of Stella McCartney, Willis stages a biannual fashion show at London Fashion Week. Last year, Hunter opened its debut flagship store on Regent Street and launched a major campaign to coincide with Glastonbury. The sharply dressed Yorkshireman comes to the fashion world from a publishing background — he co-founded Wallpaper magazine in 1996 and went on to found brand consultancy Announcement Creative.

Anya Hindmarch

Handbag entrepreneur

An accessory designer with a sense of humour, Hindmarch’s most famous handbags include a tote inspired by a box of Frosties and were the first to be shown in a catwalk show at London Fashion Week. The proud Tory supporter sold a majority share of her business to a Qatari investment firm for £30 million but remains chairman and creative director of the company.

Paulo Almeida and Marta Marques

Designers

The denim-obsessed design duo Almeida and Marques trained at Central Saint Martins and debuted at London Fashion Week with the support of Fashion East. Launched in 2011, the Marques’Almeida label is revered by the fashion press and has collaborated with Topshop and Net-A-Porter. The Portuguese designers, who are partners at work and at home, picked up a gong for emerging womenswear label at last year’s British Fashion Awards and scooped the LVMH Prize this year.

George Northwood

Hairdresser

Hair stylist to the style elite, Northwood holds the secret to Alexa Chung’s luscious locks and is the man every fashion editor in London has in her little black book. Northwood enjoyed spells working at Daniel Hersheson and Josh Wood Atelier before joining forces with his sister Sally. He opened his Wells Street salon in 2014.

Imran Amed

Founder and editor, The Business of Fashion

Canadian-born, London-based fashion expert Imran Amed launched blog The Business of Fashion in 2007 from his flat in Notting Hill. Now enjoys more than 1.6 million followers from more than 200 countries who tune in daily for global industry news.

Caren Downie and Emma Farrow

Founders, Finery London

When Downie (formerly fashion director at Asos as well as Topshop buying director) and Farrow (ex-Topshop design director) decided to go into business together, the aim was to create a brand with a strong design-led aesthetic and an affordable price. Since its launch last year, the e-tailer has earned a place as a favourite with fashion editors for its confident, covetable and high-quality collections. Finery London offers design simplicity at a remarkably low cost.

Daniel Marks

PR and partner, The Communications Store

London Fashion Week’s best-loved gentleman. Marks began his career at Vogue before heading to Milan as a fashion PR for Donatella Versace. He now heads The Communications Store’s extensive fashion PR team which has a roster of exciting designer talent, including Christopher Kane and Erdem, on its books as well as major global brands such as Net-A-Porter, Versace and Max Mara.

Erdem

Designer

A British-based, Canadian-born designer of Turkish descent, Erdem Moralioglu is a London Fashion Week heavyweight. Last year his eponymous label — now in its 10th year — won him the British Fashion Award for womenswear designer of the year. Revered for his modern approach to femininity and an aptitude for red carpet success, he counts Alexa Chung and Keira Knightley among his loyal ambassadors. Erdem opened its first flagship in Mayfair this summer.

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