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Business of Fashion
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business of Fashion
Creative Entrepreneurship Takes Centre Stage at BoF and Self-Portrait Los Angeles Cocktail
LOS ANGELES — On Wednesday, a curated assembly of Los Angeles' most influential voices in fashion, culture and creative enterprise, convened for an exclusive cocktail reception hosted by Imran Amed, The Business of Fashion founder and chief executive, and Han Chong, founder and creative director of womenswear brand Self-Portrait. The event, hosted at The Living Room in Los Angeles, centred around the theme 'Creatives Shaping Culture'. It is the first in an ongoing series celebrating global creative entrepreneurship, the reception marked a meaningful step in strengthening the relationship between creative vision and business innovation that propels the fashion ecosystem forward. The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' From left to right: Imran Amed and Han Chong attend a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture', hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (Getty Images) 'Creativity does not take place in silos,' shared Amed, as the evening began. 'Our cultural landscape has fashion, music, contemporary art, design and film intermingling with each other. Bringing people together from across these creative disciplines is one way of harnessing the potential of creative collisions, as well as the new ideas and possibilities that come from them.' The evening drew together a dynamic mix of voices from across the BoF community. Designers and entrepreneurs like Shay Mitchell, Mike Amiri, Samantha Richelle, Tina Craig and Gelila Puck mingled with artists and actors like Becky G, Bella Poarch, Victoria Justice, Evan Ross and Manoj Dias, as well as cultural catalysts and creative talents like Janaya 'Future' Khan, Elaine Welteroth and Nara Aziza Smith. 'When I founded my brand, I knew I wanted this to be at the core of everything we did — the name itself, 'Self-Portrait' – was intended to reflect this idea of evolution and self-expression not only to my customers, but to the partners we work with too,' said Chong. 'Tonight is a really good moment to celebrate this through an event with a partner who shares the same ambitions to make an impact on creativity.' When discussing Los Angeles' singular position as an intersection of fashion, entertainment, technology and art, Chong said: 'The city is an incredible tapestry of creativity and innovation. This event creates the space to celebrate a unique energy, connect with people who are influencing the landscape, and encourage the exchange of ideas that lead to new possibilities.' Singer and actor Becky G echoed a similar sentiment: '[LA] is such a melting pot of so many different cultures. [...] Today, there is so much movement for the culture, for community, and there's a lot of connection that's happening.' She added the importance of 'telling stories' within the creative process. 'It didn't really matter the realm in which that happened, whether it was through music, through fashion, through film and TV,' she told BoF. 'Then, cultivating that sense of community just came with time in it.' Model Halima Aden shared a similar sentiment around sharing narratives within creative work: 'It's always [about] telling stories. I feel like that's how I connect personally. I need to hear your story to connect and it inspires me to share my own and create my own.' However, actually 'being creative and doing something that not everyone's doing' is one of the biggest challenges facing emerging talent today, according to model-turned-content creator Nara Aziza Smith. 'It's kind of intimidating stepping out of that comfort zone a little bit and doing something different,' she added. Aden advised that creatives 'just have to post it and hope that it connects with the right audience.' She adds: 'Don't get in the habit of, 'It needs to be perfect before I can show the world what my art is.' Just have confidence.' And as influencer and entrepreneur Hallie Batchelder added: 'I always just say yes to everything and [...] then I always have a story to tell.' BoF's 'Creatives Shaping Culture' event was made possible in partnership with Self Portrait. Special thanks to The Living Room for hosting this gathering. The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' From left to right: Imran Amed and Winnie Harlow attend a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture', hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (Getty Images) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' Elaine Welteroth attends a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (for The Business of Fashion) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' Nara Aziza Smith attends a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture', hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (Getty Images) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' Jay Hines attends a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (for The Business of Fashion) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' Courtney Eaton attends a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (for The Business of Fashion) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' Janaya 'Future' Khan attends a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (for The Business of Fashion) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' Delilah Belle Hamlin attends a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture', hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (Getty Images) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' Dree Hemingway attends a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (for The Business of Fashion) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' From left to right: Raissa Gerona, Sami Miro, Kristen Noel Crawley and Shay Mitchell attend a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture', hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (for The Business of Fashion) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' Halima Aden attends a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture', hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (Getty Images) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' Brianne Howey attends a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture', hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (Getty Images) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' Ryan Destiny attends a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture', hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (Getty Images) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' Maria Bakalova attends a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture', hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (Getty Images) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' Larsen Thompson attends a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture', hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (Getty Images) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' Bella Poarch attends a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (for The Business of Fashion) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' Becky G attends a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture', hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (Getty Images) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' Salem Mitchell attends a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (for The Business of Fashion) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' From left to right: Imran Amed, founder & CEO of The Business of Fashion, with Elaine Welteroth, Jonathan Singletary, Evan Ross and Janaya 'Future' Khan attend a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (for The Business of Fashion) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' From left to right: Han Chong, founder and creative director of Self-Portrait, and Tina Craig attend a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (for The Business of Fashion) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' DJ Kitty Ca$h at a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (for The Business of Fashion) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' From left to right: Bella Poarch and Becky G attend a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (for The Business of Fashion) The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait Celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' DJ Acyde at a cocktail party to celebrate 'Creatives Shaping Culture' hosted by The Business of Fashion and Self-Portrait at The Living Room. (for The Business of Fashion) This is a sponsored feature paid for by Self-Portrait as part of a BoF partnership.
Business of Fashion
03-05-2025
- Business
- Business of Fashion
Michael Chalhoub's Strategic Roadmap for Chalhoub Group
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community. Partner Content After his first 100 days as chief executive officer of Chalhoub Group, Michael Chalhoub joined Imran Amed, BoF's founder and chief executive officer, at BoF CROSSROADS in Dubai — to discuss the state of luxury in the MENA region and the strategic next steps for the third-generation Chalhoub leader. Imran Amed, founder and CEO of The Business of Fashion and Michael Chalhoub, CEO of Chalhoub Group, on stage during day two of BoF CROSSROADS. © 2025 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions
Business of Fashion
23-04-2025
- Business
- Business of Fashion
The Ounass Formula for a Successful Brand Activation
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community. Partner Content At BoF CROSSROADS 2025 in Dubai, Imran Amed, BoF's founder and CEO, sat down with Khalid Al Tayer, CEO of luxury e-commerce platform Ounass, to unpack his strategy for success when launching a global brand in the Gulf. Imran Amed, founder and CEO of The Business of Fashion and Khalid Al Tayer, CEO of Ounass, on stage during day two of BoF CROSSROADS 2025. (Maya Cellixa) By 23 April 2025 In Partnership With On April 10-11, In This Article © 2025 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions
The National
14-04-2025
- Business
- The National
'Next decade of innovation will come from Global South', says Business of Fashion chief Imran Amed in Dubai
Despite running one of the fashion industry's most influential platforms, Imran Amed has always been something of an outsider. The founder, chief executive and editor-in-chief of The Business of Fashion (BoF) started his career as a management consultant with McKinsey & Co. When he first explored a pivot to fashion, he was bluntly told: 'We don't need people like you in fashion.' Yet last week, Amed was in Dubai hosting BoF Crossroads, the first offshoot of its kind from BoF's successful Voices conference series. Taking place at the One&Only One Za'abeel, the event gathered creative and business leaders to discuss new opportunities across fashion, beauty and luxury in the Middle East, South and Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America, reflecting BoF's global approach to the industry, as well as its focus on often neglected Global South markets. 'The event is actually not focused on Dubai or the Middle East,' Amed says. 'Over the last couple of years, I went to Egypt, India, the Philippines, Thailand, Kuwait, Brazil and obviously here in Dubai. The people I would meet were asking the same questions. These markets, with young and digitally connected populations, share similar challenges and yet they often feel disconnected from the West.' The lightbulb moment came last year during a visit to Dubai after a decade away. 'I felt like Dubai had become this crossroads,' he says, 'for people interested in this market from the West but also from sub-Saharan Africa, India, the Middle East, Southeast Asia.' Though Amed left McKinsey nearly two decades ago, the structured thinking he developed there still shapes BoF's editorial lens. 'There are frameworks I learnt that we use in our editorial process. The fashion world wasn't professionalised or globalised when I arrived. I hope we've been able to bring some structured thinking,' says Amed. 'What we're trying to do is really look at this industry holistically as a global industry with global consumers, a global supply chain, and global retail footprints. That's how the industry works.' BoF itself was founded in 2007, a year before the global financial crisis. Amed believes the platform's greatest value emerges during times of turbulence. When the industry is in crisis, people go to BoF for clarity. That was true in 2008, again during Covid-19, and now with the tariff situation. 'Our tariff analysis pieces are still the most-read content on the site right now,' says Amed. 'This is obviously a new challenge that the industry is going to navigate.' A cross-section of speakers and attendees from 25 countries were at the Crossroads event. From Saudi Arabia, Princess Noura Bint Faisal Al Saud of Culture House and Diriyah Company's Kiran Haslam took to the stage to discuss the kingdom's cultural and luxury transformation. Aika Alemi of Kazakhstan's Born Nomad gave insight into Central Asia's creative renaissance and Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee reflected on building a global luxury brand from the Global South. Felipe Matayoshi, Anand S Ahuja and Iretidayo Zaccheaus spoke about how Brazil, India and Nigeria are shaping streetwear with UAE-based fashion critic Osama Chabbi. Laduma Ngxokolo of MaXhosa Africa; Alara's Reni Folawiyo; and Maryse Mbonyumutwa of Pink Mango and Asanti explored opportunities across the African fashion value chain. Meanwhile, Khalid Al Tayer, chief executive of Ounass and managing director of Al Tayer Insignia, joined Amed to discuss operational excellence in the Gulf. Other Emirati figures on stage included Anas Bukhash and Sultan Bin Rashed Al Darmaki, who discussed Dubai's status as a global crossroads and when emerging brands should go global. Amed's efforts have always been about opening up the fashion conversation. 'Fashion used to be a bubble,' he says. 'Fashion people talking to fashion people. The conference was designed to challenge that, to connect the dots of how the industry fits into wider global dynamics around economics, politics, tech, culture. A good conference creates tension.' Today, Amed is one of fashion's most connected insiders. But his mission remains rooted in access, insight and global relevance. 'Fashion has gone from an industry that talked itself, to a pillar of popular culture. People follow fashion now like others follow sport. There are obsessive fandoms. BoF helped bring what was once a closed-off conversation into the wider world.' He also wants to remind outsiders that fashion isn't just about glamour. 'It's a complex industry – logistics, supply chain, IP, brand, tech, e-commerce and increasingly artificial intelligence. If you have professional skills that can help the industry address some of these big questions, there's opportunity here.' On where fashion is headed, Amed names Paris as the undisputed legacy capital. But when it comes to the future, he's looking further afield. 'Before Covid, I would've said Shanghai. But it feels increasingly cut off from the global now,' says Amed. 'Mumbai, as a city in the country with the largest population in the world, has some incredible creativity. The craftsmanship of what you can do there is incredible. But you could say the same about Lagos and Bangkok. That's what's exciting about these cities in the Global South. They are huge cities. They're bustling with creativity and ambition and optimism.' It's that optimism that fuels Amed's global outlook. 'Things feel pretty depressing in the West right now,' he says. 'But when I come to places like Dubai, Mumbai and Bangkok, I just feel a sense of optimism that we have the creativity; we have the ingenuity; we have the innovation that's going to make the next 10 years really exciting.'
The National
14-04-2025
- Business
- The National
'Next decade of innovation will come from Global South', say Business of Fashion chief Imran Amed in Dubai
Despite running one of the fashion industry's most influential platforms, Imran Amed has always been something of an outsider. The founder, chief executive and editor-in-chief of The Business of Fashion (BoF) started his career as a management consultant with McKinsey & Co. When he first explored a pivot to fashion, he was bluntly told: 'We don't need people like you in fashion.' Yet last week, Amed was in Dubai hosting BoF Crossroads, the first offshoot of its kind from BoF's successful Voices conference series. Taking place at the One&Only One Za'abeel, the event gathered creative and business leaders to discuss new opportunities across fashion, beauty and luxury in the Middle East, South and Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America, reflecting BoF's global approach to the industry, as well as its focus on often neglected Global South markets. 'The event is actually not focused on Dubai or the Middle East,' Amed says. 'Over the last couple of years, I went to Egypt, India, the Philippines, Thailand, Kuwait, Brazil and obviously here in Dubai. The people I would meet were asking the same questions. These markets, with young and digitally connected populations, share similar challenges and yet they often feel disconnected from the West.' The lightbulb moment came last year during a visit to Dubai after a decade away. 'I felt like Dubai had become this crossroads,' he says, 'for people interested in this market from the West but also from sub-Saharan Africa, India, the Middle East, Southeast Asia.' Though Amed left McKinsey nearly two decades ago, the structured thinking he developed there still shapes BoF's editorial lens. 'There are frameworks I learnt that we use in our editorial process. The fashion world wasn't professionalised or globalised when I arrived. I hope we've been able to bring some structured thinking,' says Amed. 'What we're trying to do is really look at this industry holistically as a global industry with global consumers, a global supply chain, and global retail footprints. That's how the industry works.' BoF itself was founded in 2007, a year before the global financial crisis. Amed believes the platform's greatest value emerges during times of turbulence. When the industry is in crisis, people go to BoF for clarity. That was true in 2008, again during Covid-19, and now with the tariff situation. 'Our tariff analysis pieces are still the most-read content on the site right now,' says Amed. 'This is obviously a new challenge that the industry is going to navigate.' A cross-section of speakers and attendees from 25 countries were at the Crossroads event. From Saudi Arabia, Princess Noura Bint Faisal Al Saud of Culture House and Diriyah Company's Kiran Haslam took to the stage to discuss the kingdom's cultural and luxury transformation. Aika Alemi of Kazakhstan's Born Nomad gave insight into Central Asia's creative renaissance and Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee reflected on building a global luxury brand from the Global South. Felipe Matayoshi, Anand S Ahuja and Iretidayo Zaccheaus spoke about how Brazil, India and Nigeria are shaping streetwear with UAE-based fashion critic Osama Chabbi. Laduma Ngxokolo of MaXhosa Africa; Alara's Reni Folawiyo; and Maryse Mbonyumutwa of Pink Mango and Asanti explored opportunities across the African fashion value chain. Meanwhile, Khalid Al Tayer, chief executive of Ounass and managing director of Al Tayer Insignia, joined Amed to discuss operational excellence in the Gulf. Other Emirati figures on stage included Anas Bukhash and Sultan Bin Rashed Al Darmaki, who discussed Dubai's status as a global crossroads and when emerging brands should go global. Amed's efforts have always been about opening up the fashion conversation. 'Fashion used to be a bubble,' he says. 'Fashion people talking to fashion people. The conference was designed to challenge that, to connect the dots of how the industry fits into wider global dynamics around economics, politics, tech, culture. A good conference creates tension.' Today, Amed is one of fashion's most connected insiders. But his mission remains rooted in access, insight and global relevance. 'Fashion has gone from an industry that talked itself, to a pillar of popular culture. People follow fashion now like others follow sport. There are obsessive fandoms. BoF helped bring what was once a closed-off conversation into the wider world.' He also wants to remind outsiders that fashion isn't just about glamour. 'It's a complex industry – logistics, supply chain, IP, brand, tech, e-commerce and increasingly artificial intelligence. If you have professional skills that can help the industry address some of these big questions, there's opportunity here.' On where fashion is headed, Amed names Paris as the undisputed legacy capital. But when it comes to the future, he's looking further afield. 'Before Covid, I would've said Shanghai. But it feels increasingly cut off from the global now,' says Amed. 'Mumbai, as a city in the country with the largest population in the world, has some incredible creativity. The craftsmanship of what you can do there is incredible. But you could say the same about Lagos and Bangkok. That's what's exciting about these cities in the Global South. They are huge cities. They're bustling with creativity and ambition and optimism.' It's that optimism that fuels Amed's global outlook. 'Things feel pretty depressing in the West right now,' he says. 'But when I come to places like Dubai, Mumbai and Bangkok, I just feel a sense of optimism that we have the creativity; we have the ingenuity; we have the innovation that's going to make the next 10 years really exciting.'
