Speakers include business and creative leaders from international luxury and fashion brands, disrupters and innovators, industry observers, investors and visionaries.

Suzy Menkes is working with speakers to reconfirm their participation in the conference during the new dates in July. This page will be updated regularly – please check back for updates, or contact us to subscribe to our newsletter.

To view speakers from previous years, click here.

Suzy Menkes

Editor, Vogue International,
Condé Nast

Suzy Menkes is fashion’s leading authority. As Editor, Vogue International, her articles and reports appear on 25 international Vogue websites in 18 languages, reaching an audience of over 74 million. An enthusiast for social media, she has over 500,000 followers on Instagram.

Frank, fearless and free from editorial constraints, she has built a reputation for having a strong and independent point of view. To her worldwide audience she brings a deep knowledge, experience and love of fashion.

With an unswerving enthusiasm for her subject, she covers the universe of style, from haute couture to talent spotting and store openings. She regularly interviews leading designers and fashion executives in the luxury market.

Unique among fashion editors, Suzy – trained as a historian at Cambridge University in her native England – looks beyond the immediate trends to analyse changing style in a social context. Her incisive reporting includes financial news and reviews of museum exhibitions and the arts.

The luxury conference concept that Suzy invented almost two decades ago in 2001, while Fashion Editor of the International Herald Tribune, shows a breadth of vision and geographical reach that can only be deepened as she now hosts conferences for Condé Nast International.

Suzy is a recipient of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour, where she holds the rank of Chevalier, and was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for “services to fashion journalism”.

In 2013, she was awarded the Fiorino d’Oro – the highest honour of the city of Florence – in recognition of her contribution to culture and arts in that city. Later that year she received a Special Recognition Award at the British Fashion Awards.

In 2014, she was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women).

In 2015, Suzy received the keys to the city of Florence from Mayor Dario Nardella while hosting the first Condé Nast International Luxury Conference in the Palazzo Vecchio.

In 2016, Suzy was awarded honorary citizenship of the city of Seoul by Mayor Park Won-Soon while hosting the second edition of the Condé Nast International Luxury Conference.

In 2018, Suzy received the Visionary Award at the 2018 Green Carpet Fashion Awards hosted by Eco-Age and Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana in Milan.

Portrait of Suzy Menkes by Elena Olay, courtesy of Vogue España.

Alessandro Sartori

Artistic Director, Ermenegildo Zegna Group

Alessandro Sartori is an Italian fashion designer born in Biella, Italy in 1966. In 2003, he became Creative Director of the newly created “Z Zegna” diffusion line within the Ermenegildo Zegna Group. Sartori was pivotal in turning the line into an international brand which was recognised for rewriting the rules of contemporary tailoring. Z Zegna was launched at Pitti Uomo and Sartori staged the first Z Zegna global runway show in New York in February 2007. The line was featured in five editions of New York Fashion Week before moving to Milan in June 2009.

Satori was appointed Artistic Director at Berluti in July, 2011. Five years later, following his acclaimed fashion shows and having multiplied Berluti’s revenue, Sartori left the LVMH group.

On February 5, 2016 Ermenegildo Zegna Group announced Sartori’s appointment to the newly created position of Artistic Director, responsible for all creative functions and Zegna brands. Gildo Zegna, CEO of Zegna, commented “I’ve known Alessandro and his style for many years, and I am extremely excited to welcome him back to our Group. His talent, creativity, passion and modernity make him the perfect fit to help us take Zegna to the next phase of its development.”

Sartori officially joined the Ermenegildo Zegna Group in June 2016, and Autumn/Winter 2017 was his first season.

Andreas Kronthaler

Creative Director, Vivienne Westwood

Andreas Kronthaler, born in Tyrol, Austria, on 26th January 1966, is the Creative Director, Design Partner and husband of Vivienne Westwood. In 1980, at the age of just 14, Kronthaler first began to explore his creative capabilities, choosing to study at art school in Graz, Austria, where he spent five years training to be a fine jeweller. During this time, he first began to experiment with fashion, making clothes at home to be sold to friends and in local stores to support himself whilst completing his diploma.

Once completing his diploma he continued to develop his creative inclination and applied to study Industrial Design at the Vienna School of Applied Art. Kronthaler continued to make clothes at home, practicing his technical design knowledge and creativity, and soon realised his natural talent, so changed course to study Fashion Design.

It was during his study of fashion in 1988 that Andreas met Vivienne whilst she was teaching the Fashion Design course at the Viennese school. As their work progressed through the year, Westwood noticed a talent in Andreas’ work, most significantly his series of dress designs inspired by the Renaissance – dramatic dresses reminiscent of the revolutionary era. The circular floor length skirts included a belt, enabling the dress to be styled in an infinite number of ways.

In 1989, Vivienne invited Andreas to further develop this dress system in her London design studio, and to work with her on the Spring-Summer 1991 collection: Cut and Slash. Andreas’ special Renaissance-inspired gowns featured in this and following collections – later named the Sun Wheel dress.

Married in 1993, Vivienne and Andreas continued to develop collections together in their Camden design studio, Kronthaler nurturing his craft and working in tandem with Vivienne on some of the most iconic Vivienne Westwood collections to date. Together they are today one of fashion’s most formidable duos: Westwood nostalgic and rebellious, Kronthaler driven by quality and progression.

While Kronthaler previously remained a silent design partner and creative director of the brand, in 2016 Vivienne Westwood acknowledged his commitment and influence on the Gold Label collection over the past 25 years by renaming the line to: Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood. The collection continues to show in Paris season on season, whilst the brand’s mainline collection titled Vivienne Westwood shows in London.

“I have designed with Vivienne for more than 25 years. To add my name is to emphasise and clarify the differences between our lines. It is not a big change to the way we work but it will bring a new direction and I am happy and excited for the future.” Andreas Kronthaler

Portrait of Andreas Kronthaler by Kamil Kustosz.

Angelica Cheung

Editor-in-Chief, Vogue China

Upon joining Condé Nast China as the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue China in 2005, Angelica Cheung spearheaded the launch of the publication, and for the past fourteen years has led its growth to international acclaim.

From its inception, Vogue China’s combination of original creative content and global vision set a new benchmark for Chinese fashion publications. Whilst working closely with the world’s leading photographers, stylists, models and designers, Vogue China has also dedicated itself to supporting local Chinese talent and sustained efforts to bring the Chinese fashion industry to international prominence. Over the past fourteen years, featured models like Du Juan and Liu Wen have become top international supermodels, whilst many young, talented Chinese designers, through Vogue China’s promotion, have received recognition from international media. Led by Angelica, Vogue China has risen with unprecedented speed to become one of the biggest and most influential Vogue editions.

Constantly looking ahead, in 2016, Angelica introduced Vogue Me, a new bimonthly publication and digital platform targeted at the young, digitally active generation. In 2017, Vogue Film was launched to produce fashion films of exemplary quality through collaboration with leading creatives, merging the boundaries between fashion film and print. At the beginning of 2018, Vogue Now became the newest member of the Vogue China family, a digital magazine combining photography, film, audio and text to highlight of the moment personalities through Vogue’s point of view. In addition, Angelica also oversees all the digital platforms including the website, social media channels and the trendsetting mobile app Vogue Mini which launched in 2015, successfully introducing the brand to the next generation through digital media.

Angelica Cheung graduated from Beijing (Peking) University with degrees in Law and English Language and Literature, and has an MBA degree from the University of South Australia.

Before becoming Editor-in-Chief of Vogue China, Angelica was previously the Editorial Director of Elle China, Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire Hong Kong, Associate Publisher of Hong Kong English-language fashion magazine B International, and the launch Executive Editor of English-language daily newspaper Hong Kong iMail.

Arthur Arbesser

Arthur Arbesser is a Milan-based womenswear brand launched in 2013.

Born and raised in Vienna, Arbesser was deeply immersed in the city’s history and culture as he grew up. After graduating from London’s Central Saint Martins College, he moved to Milan to work for one of the most prestigious Italian fashion houses for the next years.

Subsequent to launching his eponymous label and being a finalist for the 2015 LVMH Prize, he quickly became recognised for his vibrant aesthetics.

Arbesser’s designs represent a new take on turn-of-the-century art and architecture. The brand’s philosophy is a synergy of outstanding tailoring and finest quality fabrics, creating pure, yet sensual silhouettes for modern women.

Since 2017, Arthur Arbesser has also been the Creative Director of Fay, the outerwear brand of the Italian Tod’s Group.

Portrait of Arthur Arbesser by Wesley Vorster.

Candice Huffine

Model, IMG Models

An authentic talent with natural beauty and style… 

 

Candice Huffine began her career as a model at the early age of 15.  She has since become an unwavering leader in the fashion industry as both an outspoken advocate for the body-positivity and size diversity movements, and model with an undeniably accomplished book of work. 

 

Huffine’s breakout moment in V-Magazine’s editorial feature “Curves Ahead” photographed by Sølve Sundsbø was shortly followed by her trailblazing June 2011 cover of Vogue Italia, photographed by Steven Meisel.  Since her debut, Candice has never looked back, starring in countless campaigns with brands including Levi’s, Swarovski, Express, and Anthropologie while continuing to break down barriers with appearances on the runways of New York Fashion Week and the covers and pages of numerous magazines.  

 

In 2017, inspired by her own journey in both fashion and fitness, Huffine launched her label – DAY/WON – a sustainably made, size-inclusive athletic brand dedicated to empowering women to push themselves outside of their comfort zone, conquer challenges and turn the impossible into possibilities.      

 

When she is off-duty, Huffine is usually found (literally) on the run. As an avid runner, Candice recently completed both the New York City and Boston Marathons.

Christiane Arp

Editor-in-Chief, Vogue Germany

Christiane Arp has been at the helm of Vogue Germany as Editor-in-Chief since March 2003, and has rejuvenated the brand’s relevance to international fashion.

Alongside her role as Editor-in-Chief, she has a personal hand as a stylist in many international fashion shoots. Currently, she has been preparing an exhibition about 40 years of Vogue Germany at the Museum Villa Stuck in Munich.

While raising the global profile of Vogue Germany, Arp has pursued a range of initiatives to promote Germany as a centre of fashion. In 2011, she established the Vogue Salon, showcasing up-and-coming German designers during Berlin Fashion Week. Furthermore, she is President and Founding Member of the Fashion Council Germany.

Christiane Arp studied fashion design at the Hamburg University of Design.

Portrait of Christiane Arp by Ralph Mecke.

David Snowdon, The Earl of Snowdon

Honorary Chairman, Christie’s EMEA

David Snowdon was appointed Chairman of Christie’s UK in December 2006 and was promoted to Hon. Chairman for Christie’s in Europe, the Middle East, Russia and India in June 2015.

In this role, he is responsible for leading the Chairman’s office, and working closely with Christie’s specialists on developing the business, together with existing, as well as new client relationships both in the UK and internationally.

David Snowdon originally joined the Board of Christie’s in a non-executive capacity in February 2005. His latest evolved appointment reflected his extended interest in, and knowledge of, the art market and marked a desire to further develop his career within Christie’s after ten years with the firm.

David Snowdon has achieved international renown for his company, LINLEY, which provides luxury interior design, furniture and accessories of the highest quality. David established the business in 1985 focusing on the production of bespoke furniture for individual commissions. Appropriately, the launch of David’s business took place at Christie’s King Street 30 years ago.

David Snowdon’s passion for the arts was nurtured at school in Bedales, which is renowned for its emphasis on arts and crafts. From 1980-82, he studied at Parnham House School for Craftsman in Wood.

David has written numerous books and lectured around the world at venues including the V&A Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, the LA County Museum of Art, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago and many other leading American institutions.

In 2018, David Snowdon was appointed Vice President of The Prince’s Foundation, an organisation created to support people to make the most of their community. Through teaching traditional arts and skills, building sustainable housing or regenerating neighbourhoods, the Foundation supports families and individuals throughout the United Kingdom.

Greg Williams

Editor, WIRED Britain

Greg Williams is Editor of WIRED UK and has spent the past two decades delivering award-winning work in London and New York.

He’s interested in understanding the trends, technologies and ideas that are shaping the world, and has interviewed numerous founders, investors and technologists, as well as leading figures, including Tony Blair, Satya Nadella (CEO of Microsoft), British Prime Minister Theresa May, Troy Carter (entertainment mogul/Lady Gaga’s former manager), and Federico Marchetti of YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP. Before WIRED UK, he was Executive Editor of Details.

He is responsible for WIRED UK’s annual guide to Europe’s hottest startups and annual trends briefing The WIRED World. He is also responsible for curating WIRED events – recent guests have included Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London; Herman Narula, the founder of Improbable; the founders of DeepMind; the EU Competition Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager; Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia; Niklas Zennstrom, the founder of Skype; former World Formula One Champion, Nico Rosberg; Lisa Randall, Professor of Physics, Harvard University; Mo Gawdat, Chief Business Officer for Google X; Werner Vogels, CTO of Amazon; Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones, the co-creators of Black Mirror, and Brian Fishman, Head of Counterterrorism for Facebook, as well as specially curated sessions with the Royal College of Art and Serpentine Gallery.

He is the author of six novels, including the international best-seller, The Nero Decree.

Guram Gvasalia

Co-Founder, VETEMENTS

Hélène Poulit-Duquesne

Chief Executive Officer, Boucheron

Hélène Poulit-Duquesne was appointed CEO of Boucheron in October 2015. She brings to the company expertise in international development as well as extensive knowledge of the watchmaking and jewellery industries.

Her role at Boucheron includes pursuing the growth of the Maison Boucheron on an international scale, and strengthening its position among the most prestigious jewellers in the world.

Hélène Poulit-Duquesne has sound experience in managing and developing brands. She received her Master’s degree from the French business school, ESSEC, and began her career at LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton before joining Cartier International in 1998. In 2010, she was named International Marketing Director, and became a member of the Executive Committee. She then became International Business and Client Development Director at Cartier in 2014, before joining Boucheron in 2015.

Hélène Poulit-Duquesne is married, and has two sons. She is passionate about horse riding, especially dressage. When not travelling, she likes to spend time at her home in Normandy.

James Ferragamo

Vice Chairman and Brand & Product Director, Salvatore Ferragamo

Born in Florence in 1971, with a degree in Marketing and International Business from the Stern Business School in New York, James Ferragamo is now Vice Chairman and Brand and Product Director for the Salvatore Ferragamo Group.

After beginning his career at Saks Fifth Avenue, where he worked as Men’s Casual Wear Buyer for two years, James completed an internship at Goldman Sachs in London while earning his master’s degree at New York University’s Stern Business School in Finance, Accounting and International Business.

In 1998, he joined the Salvatore Ferragamo Group, beginning his managerial experience in the Women’s Shoe Division, where he oversaw several key product development projects. He was named General Merchandising Manager in 2000 and Women’s Leather Product Director in 2004, becoming Women’s Shoe Director in 2008, and Women’s and Men’s Shoes and Leather Goods Division Director in January 2015.

Additionally, James Ferragamo is a member of the Associazione Giovani Imprenditori, an association of young entrepreneurs in the Florence chapter of Confindustria, the main organisation representing Italy’s manufacturing and service businesses, where he has also served as Director. He is also a member of YPO, the Young Presidents’ Organization.

Jo-Ann Strauss

Master of Ceremonies

As a Master of Ceremonies and international speaker, Jo-Ann has hosted a multitude of events worldwide. She enjoys taking her audiences on an insightful and entertaining journey throughout the proceedings she hosts. These range from VIP events for the Ryder Cup in Paris for BMW to the first charitable fundraiser in Monaco for Her Serene Highness, Charlene, The Princess of Monaco. She has MC’d conferences for bespoke brands on four continents and travelled extensively as a television host and producer.

Jo-Ann is a UNICEF Ambassador and has designed a clothing range which raised funds to feed over 8,000 families. She sits on the boards of Media24 (one of Africa’s biggest media companies), M&C Saatchi Abel, Village N Life (a property and tourism company) as well as the advisory board of the University of Stellenbosch Business School.

She has three children aged four and under with her husband, a professor in orthopaedic surgery at Groote Schuur Hospital. Jo-Ann strives for balance in everything she does.

Each year, Jo-Ann produces #SocialStar, a social media property that enables young influencers to carve out profitable and sustainable businesses in the new sphere of media. She has over 650,000 followers across the most popular social media platforms.

She is passionate about entrepreneurship and hosted a conference on this in Africa with Sir Richard Branson. One of her goals is to help create and foster an environment in her home country which encourages people to grow their own businesses. She is particularly passionate about empowering single working mothers.

To Jo-Ann, the greatest luxury is time. She enjoys spending it wisely.

Joerg Zuber

Creator, @noonoouri

Joerg Zuber is a citizen of the world. A nomad, a traveller. He is embracing new horizons. Chasing fresh sunsets and racing towards sunrise. Crossing continents and discovering cultures. Soaking up sights, sounds and textures. Translating his experience into visions of insight and art. Combining, blending, reinventing. Unlocking hidden passageways and walking unknown roads. Dreaming – not of what is, but of what may be. Lighting the path to perfection.

Joerg Zuber sees, hears, thinks, creates. He is gathering knowledge and giving shape. Penetrating to the core, sensing to the quick. Turning lines, casting arcs. Looking through the lens, beholding patterns and connections, combinations of light and shade. Imagining. Collaborating. Loving to work with people truly driven by their craft. Charged with boundless energy, with positivity, enthusiasm. Transforming bold imagination into otherworldly beauty. A master director of design in fashion and form.

He was five years old, at home in Germany, when he discovered his mother’s fashion magazines. The glossy paper spoke to him. ‘See.’ ‘Touch.’ ‘Explore.’ Page upon page of neverending beauty. His senses became attuned by Coco Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld and Gianni Versace. Alive.

From that instant, childhood changed. Taking snow-white paper and a rainbow of pencils, he crafted sparkling jewellery. Opulent dresses. Luxurious bottles of scent. Newly minted logos. Entire collections and campaigns. The priceless gifts of a child to his mother.

He was addicted. Truly, madly, helplessly. Caught in a self-made web, spinning strands of beauty and design. From a spark to a flame, the addiction now blazes. A fire in his veins. Lighting projects. Guiding partners.

He founded his creative studio 16 years ago. Taking light, colour, sound and motion. Blending deep invocations to the senses. Intoxicating audiences with addictive design. Animation. Film. Audio. Print. Tirelessly seducing with unconventional beauty, creating digital haute couture.

He is the creator and soul of the digital character @noonoouri

Karina Dobrotvorskaya

Executive Director, Editorial Development, Condé Nast

Karina Dobrotvorskaya works with magazine editors in all Condé Nast markets, including both wholly-owned and licensed territories, on developing an editorial strategy and on launching new titles.

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1966, Karina began her career as an academic. She has a Ph.D. from the St. Petersburg National Academy of Theatre Arts, and worked as a professor before crossing over into magazine publishing.

She began her magazine career in 1998 as the first Features Editor of Vogue Russia and was then promoted to Deputy Editor. She later became the founding editor of Architectural Digest in Russia and served as a consultant on the launch of Glamour in 2004. In 2006, she was named Editorial Director of the company while continuing to edit Architectural Digest. Under her direction, Condé Nast Russia launched Tatler, Brides, Condé Nast Traveller, and the first European edition of Allure. She also supervised the establishment of seven branded websites. In 2008, she was appointed the President of Condé Nast Russia and continued in her role as Editorial Director.

In 2012, Karina was appointed President and Editorial Director, Brand Development, of Condé Nast International. Based in Paris, she was responsible for developing new print and digital products worldwide and focusing on launching new products and brands in emerging markets. In 2015, she relocated to London in this role, and in March 2018 took on her current title and role at Condé Nast.

 

Lynne Webber

Managing Director, Marina Rinaldi

British-born Lynne Webber became Managing Director of Marina Rinaldi at the start of 2012.

Having completed her studies with a Master of Arts in UK, Lynne Webber has lived and worked internationally for well over 30 years, with spells in France and Germany, before choosing Italy, and in particular Reggio Emilia, as her adoptive city.

Her professional path has been varied, starting from an initial teaching career, to a move to sales in the ceramics industry, a decade as head of the export department in a local fashion company, to a move to the mechanical industry and her way upwards from sales to strategic management before becoming member of the management board of a large international company in the area, and part of an American agglomerate, before joining Marina Rinaldi.

“It’s always important to believe in what you do and to do it with passion. In Marina Rinaldi this is even more important. I have total faith and conviction in the mission of Marina Rinaldi: to provide style, glamour, fashion and sophistication for all women no matter what their size, breaking through the barriers of the dominant, narrow aesthetic canon.” Lynne Webber

 

 

Maghan McDowell

Innovation Editor, Vogue Business

Maghan McDowell is the Innovation Editor at Vogue Business, where she leads its coverage of technology and innovation. She is known for identifying the key drivers of the future of fashion and retail, and offering digestible insights on which technologies matter.

Before joining Condé Nast, McDowell reported for publications including W, Marie Claire, San Francisco Chronicle and Business of Fashion, and was the first technology reporter for WWD. McDowell has taught at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism, from which she holds a degree.

Natalia Vodianova

“Supernova”, Supermodel, Philanthropist, Entrepreneur and Impact Investor

Natalia Vodianova is one of the world’s most iconic supermodels of all times and one of the most influential celebrities of the contemporary global fashion scene.

Queen of more than 400 runway shows, star of over 70 VOGUE covers, and muse of the most prominent photographers of all time, including Paolo Roversi, Steven Meisel and many more, she has inspired some of the greatest fashion designers of the world, and  has starred in some of the most memorable advertising campaigns of all times.

Guerlain, Givenchy, Prada, Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Nina Ricci, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, L’Oréal, David Yurman, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, Diane Von Furstenberg, Hugo Boss, Miss Sixty, Valentino, Versace, Stuart Weitzman, Etam and H&M are just a few names of the extraordinary brands with whom she has worked.

As an undisputed global fashion icon, she has made Giving Back her mission in life and has become one of the most passionate social activists in the world, inspiring the fashion community to join her.

Natalia Vodianova launched her charity organisation, the Naked Heart Foundation, to support children with special needs and their families. In addition, she co-founded Elbi, an innovative platform empowering others to fundraise for charitable causes. The Elbi App was named by Apple as one of the most innovative ways of giving back and favourite editorial stories of 2018.

By continually connecting fashion and philanthropy, she has made her motto “Good is the New Cool.” Her signature fundraising events – The Fabulous Fund Fair and Love Ball – are known and admired all over the world.

Natalia Vodianova has a long list of awards under her belt, including: Woman of the Year for Glamour in 2014, and The Voice for Children. In 2016, Mattel created the first Russian Barbie under her name. In 2017, she received VOGUE India’s Woman of the Year Award.

She has also taken part as a jury member for the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers.

A seasoned entrepreneur and impact investor, Natalia loves to help young entrepreneurs with brilliant business ideas, and bring about positive impacts on people’s lives.

No longer only admired as one of the world’s top models, “Supernova” is today an icon of the fashion industry, a global ambassador, a super role model and a proud mother of five children.

 

Noonoouri

Digital character; Activist

Created by Joerg Zuber, Noonoouri is a digital character.

Noonoouri is wearing Thierry Mugler couture, AW 1995.

Patrick Herning

Founder & CEO, 11 Honoré

Patrick Herning is the founder and CEO of the size inclusive e-commerce platform, 11 Honoré.

Applying over 20 years of experience in tech, brand marketing and communications, Patrick launched 11 Honoré in 2017 with a vision of inclusivity and creating an innovative retail experience and opportunity for plus size women to have access to designer clothing without compromising integrity or style. Since launch, Patrick has built a team of 40 full time employees between Los Angeles, New York and Dubai and now works with over 90 brand partners who have expanded their ready to wear collections into extended sizing.

 

In February 2019, Patrick led 11 Honoré to open New York Fashion Week with a first of its kind runway show spotlighting inclusivity and high fashion. “This is a movement, not a moment,” is the credo Patrick started and still leads 11 Honoré by in order to make real and lasting change with the fashion industry and where it is headed.

Riccardo Sciutto

Chief Executive Officer, Sergio Rossi

Riccardo Sciutto was appointed CEO of Sergio Rossi in April 2016, bringing unique insights and expertise from his successful and diverse business career, gained through various prestigious positions held in the fashion and consumer industry, most recently culminating in the General Direction of the jewellery brand Dodo and as General Manager of Hogan (Tod’s Group).

During his career Riccardo Sciutto has focused his attention on new business opportunities, promoting technological innovation, and embracing the digital revolution. From product development to customer experience, and with a strong focus on ecommerce sales, personalisation and a solid omni-channel strategy, Riccardo Sciutto pursues the perfect balance between thinking heritage and playing digital.

His appointment as new CEO came after the conclusion of the acquisition of Sergio Rossi by Investindustrial, and was part of the immediate action taken to start the relaunch of the brand. Mr Sciutto worked from day one on rebuilding the credibility of the brand with tastemakers and industry insiders, by recovering key pieces from the Sergio Rossi archive, studying the brand DNA closely, and creating a versatile, seasonless collection which has become the symbol of the rebirth of the brand: sr1. Sergio Rossi is recognisable, modern, and designed for today’s woman, confident enough to never feel the need to take herself too seriously.

Riccardo Sciutto reconstructed the management teams, from design to communication, and put the San Mauro Pascoli Factory back at the centre of the Sergio Rossi story, enhancing the greatness of Italian craftsmanship and shoemaking. With a complete new plan for store openings and refurbishments – in line with the new direction of the brand – as well as a crucial omnichannel goal, Riccardo Sciutto keeps uplifting the new Sergio Rossi era.

Simon Holloway

Creative Director, Agnona

British-American Designer Simon Holloway was born in 1971 in Newcastle, in the north of England, and currently resides between London and Milan.

He grew up between the UK and US reading copies of American Vogue, admiring the casual glamour pioneered by Anna Wintour and devouring seasonal collections reports by Bill Cunningham from the original Details magazine. Holloway went on to study fashion at Newcastle and Kingston, and graduated with a 1st class degree in 1992.

After starting his career in Paris at Chloe and Sonia Rykiel, Holloway moved to the US, where he held senior design positions for Richard Tyler, Narciso Rodriguez and Ralph Lauren. He then returned to London as a Creative Director of Jimmy Choo before he moved to Milan as Creative Director of Hogan.

Using cinematic, art and pop cultural references as inspiration, Holloway works with deep research and development in fabrics, construction and knit techniques to craft clothes that are chic, effortless and minimal yet rich.

Agnona is an Italian fabric specialist, founded in 1953, which creates exquisite fabrics for the Haute Couture Houses of Paris, Rome and Florence. The brand has a rich and creative history in noble fibres such as vicuña, cashmere, alpaca, camel and fine wools, which are woven into beautiful plain and textured double face fabric. As fashion advanced Agnona evolved manufacturing RTW for the great Couture houses, and also started to produce woven and knit clothing under the Agnona label, employing the most important talent of today.

Holloway was appointed Creative Director of Agnona in November 2015, and due to the expansion of his role the brand re-introduced menswear for the Autumn/Winter 2020 season.

Simon Sebag Montefiore

Author

Simon Sebag Montefiore is a bestselling writer whose books have been published in forty-eight languages and who has won prizes for both his history and novels.

He is the author of the acclaimed Moscow Trilogy of novels Sashenka, Red Sky at Noon, and One Night in Winter. One Night in Winter won the Political Novel of the Year Prize (UK) and was longlisted for the Orwell Prize (UK). Catherine The Great and Potemkin was shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson, Duff Cooper, and Marsh Biography Prizes. Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar won the History Book of the Year Prize at the British Book Awards. Young Stalin won the Costa Biography Award (UK), the LA Times Book Prize for Biography (US), Le Grand Prix de la Biographie Politique (France) and the Kreisky Prize for Political Literature (Austria). Jerusalem: The Biography was a number one non-fiction Sunday Times bestseller and a global bestseller, and won The Book of the Year Prize from the Jewish Book Council (US). It also won the Wen Jin Prize in China awarded by the National Library of China, and to date the book has sold almost 600,000 copies in Chinese. The Romanovs, 1613-1918 has been a bestseller all over the world including being a New York Times top ten bestseller, and won the Lupicaia del Terriccio Literature Prize (Italy).  His latest book is Written In History: Letters That Changed The World. 

He is the author of the series of childrens’ books (with Santa Montefiore), Royal Rabbits of London.

All of his books are now being optioned and developed for either films or TV drama series.

He has written and presented five BBC TV series on Jerusalem, Rome, Istanbul (‘Byzantium: a tale of three cities’), Spain (‘Blood and Gold’) and Vienna.

He read history at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University, where he received his Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD). A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and Visiting Professor of Humanities at the University of Buckingham, he lives in London.

Dr. Montefiore regularly lectures around the world on history, Russia and the Middle East, and on subjects such as leadership and revolution.

Thierry Dreyfus

Founder, Eyesight

Thierry Dreyfus tells stories with lights. He sets up interactive playgrounds where this untouchable material becomes a media for a dialog between an architecture and a viewer. He creates fields of experience and visual landmarks as guides to drive your eyes and enlighten vision.

As art director, producer and light designer since 1985, Thierry Dreyfus has created unique and memorable atmospheres for the most prestigious fashion catwalks including Yves Saint Laurent, Dior Homme, Off-White, Jil Sander, Comme des Garçons and Acné Studios, among others.

His lighting installations and designs have gained a worldwide recognition and imprinted the identity of historical buildings  including the Grand Palais, the Notre-Dame, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and the park of the Château de Versailles. He has also worked in contemporary edifices including the Caisse des Dépôts in Paris, the Borusan Foundation in Istanbul, and on musical stages for the L.E.V. Dance Company.

Thierry Dreyfus also designs & creates “Elements of Light,” presented at major international design events including Design Miami Basel and Salone del Mobile. His illuminations and exclusive lamps thrive through commissions for luxury brands including Versace, in hotels for Starwood, and in restaurants around the world.

As a photographer, he records, through his images, the “characters of light”. His first photographic book was published by Editions du Regard. A new volume is being edited.

Thierry Dreyfus is currently working on permanent video installations at the five star Cheval Blanc Hotel in Paris (opening in 2020), and is preparing a new exhibition of several first-ever lighting elements at the Ateliers Courbet, in New York City (launching in February 2020).

Portrait of Thierry Dreyfus by Mathias Wendzinski.

Thierry-Maxime Loriot

Curator

Thierry-Maxime Loriot was born in Quebec City in 1976.

After working for more than ten years in the fashion industry in New York, Milan, and Paris, with leading photographers, brands and magazines, Mr. Loriot curated the various renditions of the globally successful touring exhibition “The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk.”

Initiated by Nathalie Bondil, Director and Chief Curator of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA), the retrospective travelled to twelve cities and drew more than 2.1 million visitors, breaking records for a fashion exhibition.

After opening in Montreal in 2011, the exhibition travelled to Dallas (Dallas Museum of Art), San Francisco (Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco), Madrid (Fundación MAPFRE), Rotterdam (Kunsthal), Stockholm (Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design), Brooklyn (Brooklyn Museum), London (Barbican Centre), Melbourne (National Gallery of Victoria), Paris (Grand Palais), Munich (Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung) and Seoul (Dongdaemun Design Plaza), where the exhibition tour came to a close in 2016 after five years on the road. A total of six publications on Jean Paul Gaultier have been produced by Loriot over the course of this record tour, and have received (among many prizes) the Grand Prix du Livre de Mode in 2012. The groundbreaking Jean Paul Gaultier world tour was followed by his exhibition “Love is Love: Wedding Bliss for All à la Jean Paul Gaultier,” presented at the MMFA in 2016 and at the Centro cultural Kirchner in Buenos Aires, with further dates and locations to be announced.

Mr. Loriot also co-curated the exhibition “Be My Guest” at the London College of Fashion (LCF) in 2014 and collaborated with Dr. Valerie Steele on the Fashion Underground: The World of Susanne Bartsch” retrospective presented at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York in 2015.

He also curated and wrote the books for the travelling exhibitions Peter Lindbergh: A Different Vision on Fashion Photography,” presented in Italy, The Netherlands and Germany, and two editions of “Viktor & Rolf: Fashion Artists,” first presented at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, followed by the Kunsthal Rotterdam in the Netherlands to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the duo, both exhibitions attracting close to a million visitors.

Mr. Loriot also curated the touring exhibition and book on French creator Thierry Mugler, “Thierry Mugler Couturissime,” which premiered at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in March 2019, followed by the Kunsthal Rotterdam and in April 2020 the Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung Munich, with more venues to follow later.

Mr. Loriot is also Consulting Curator for Fashion and Textiles at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne, and at the MMFA in Canada. He also collaborates with musicians, among them Quebec singer Isabelle Boulay on her latest album art direction. He was responsible for the creative direction of Rufus Wainwright’s 2018-2019 world tour “All These Poses.”

In May 2019, Thierry-Maxime Loriot received the Vanguard Award from CAFA (Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards) for the important contributions he has made to the arts and fashion industries.

Portrait of Thierry-Maxime Loriot by Max Abadian.

Thomas Heatherwick

Founder and Design Director, Heatherwick Studio

Thomas Heatherwick is a British designer whose prolific and varied work over two decades is characterised by its ingenuity, inventiveness and originality.

Defying the conventional classification of design disciplines, Thomas founded Heatherwick Studio in 1994 to bring the practices of design, architecture and urban planning together in a single workspace.

Thomas leads the design of all Heatherwick Studio projects, working in collaboration with a team of 180 highly-skilled architects, designers, and makers. Thomas’s unusual approach applies artistic thinking to the needs of each project, resulting in some of the most acclaimed designs of our time.

Based in London, Heatherwick Studio is currently working in four continents on projects valued at over £2 billion. Following the Gold Award success of the UK Pavilion for the Shanghai World Expo in 2010, Heatherwick Studio has gone on to win exciting design briefs, including the Google campus in Silicon Valley, Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross and the overhaul of London Olympia.

The studio has recently completed the 420,000m² Bund Finance Centre in Shanghai, a collaboration with Foster + Partners, and the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, the first museum of its kind on the continent.

Thomas has been appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, a Royal Academician, and in 2004 became the youngest Royal Designer for Industry.