For centuries Italy has been the cradle of some of the most famous creative minds in the world. Fashion is one of those sectors which, since its inception, boasts in Italy some of the most influential personalities in the sector. Starting from the concept of Haute Couture conceived with the unforgettable fashion show in the Sala Bianca of Palazzo Pitti in 1952, up to the present day when it is precisely in this beautiful country that the concept of fashion has been rewritten in 2.0 perspective. Today we have taken another step forward: although men still occupy the majority of places on the podium of celebrities, the gender ratio in the fashion sector has risen, boasting among the most powerful in the world, many names of Italian women. Creative directors, marketing managers, CEOs, influencers and supermodels are writing a female chapter of an era in which intelligence, strength, perseverance and courage are the main characteristics of the woman that everyone wants to become. But who are the most powerful Italian women in the fashion sector today?
CHIARA FERRAGNI
Considered the most powerful digital entrepreneur in the world, Chiara Ferragni is the CEO and president of TBS CREW and Chiara Ferragni Collection. Her career began in 2009, the year in which Chiara decided to found theblondesalad.com, a blog dedicated to fashion and lifestyle. It is precisely in these years that Ferragni serves a revolution in the hands of the digital world, which will forever change the way we do and communicate fashion. Her success as an influencer expands to that of an entrepreneur when, in 2013, she created Chiara Ferragni Collection, a clothing and footwear brand. 2015 consecrates Chiara Ferragni as one of the most influential personalities in the sector: Harvard Business School dedicates a case study to her which will be updated a few years later including The Blonde Salad and Chiara Ferragni Collection. From here on, many other awards will come, including Forbes and Instagram, which will consecrate Chiara as one of the most influential personalities in the world. Her naturalness, or rather what she loves to call, the power of sharing are still the winning weapons of her success. To testify, the latest fundraising launched in support of hospitals for the Covid-19 emergency, with which she managed to raise almost 5 million euros.
MIUCCIA PRADA
Pseudonym of Maria Bianchi, Miuccia Prada is one of the most resonant names on the global fashion scene. It is the face and creative mind behind the activity that, together with her husband Patrizio Bertelli, has transformed Prada into one of the most famous fashion houses on the international market. Milanese for generations, Miuccia has taken over the family brand after completing her studies in political science. In 1977, following the meeting with her husband Bertelli who is still her right-hand today, Miuccia quickly revolutionized the concept of Haute Couture, introducing the concept of sportiness in a world that previously looked at it as a parallel universe. She launched the iconic nylon bag in the 80s and in 1988 she presented the first Italian prêt-à-porter line in Milan. In 1993 she founded Miu Miu and since then regularly presents the collections of her two brands in Milan and Paris. She has received many awards including the Honorary Doctorate of the Royal College of Art in London and Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. Today her commitment to fashion joins her love for her city, for which she founded not only the Fondazione Prada museum but has also started many neighborhood reclamation works.
FRANCESCA BELLETTINI
CEO and president of Yves Saint Laurent, Francesca Bellettini began her investment banking career in London with Goldman Sachs International, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, and Compass Partner International. In 1999 she joined the Business Planning and Development division of the Prada group, to then take on the role of Operations Manager at Helmut Lang. Her highly respected curriculum has led her to be one of the most important personalities in the economic and commercial of the fashion system. In 2003 for this reason, Francesca joined the Kering Group as Strategic Planning Director and Associate Worldwide Merchandising Director of Gucci. In 2008, however, she moved to Bottega Veneta, holding the role of Worldwide Merchandising and Communications Director in 2010. But it is in 2013 that her career takes a further step forward: she is appointed President and CEO of Yves Saint Laurent promoting a corporate culture based on creativity, authenticity, and agility. Her work in the brand has led the house to expand until the identity of Saint Laurent, today the name of the brand, fully emerges, while remaining faithful to its original essence.
DONATELLA VERSACE
Italian Doc, Donatella Versace is the face of one of the most famous and powerful brands in the world. Sister of the famous Santo and Gianni Versace, founder of the Maison who died tragically in Miami in 1997, Donatella has been in charge of the Versace brand since the 1980s. After her studies in languages, in fact, Donatella was entrusted by her brother Gianni with the direction of the Versus Versace brand, then moving on to the creative direction of the entire Maison in 1998 after her brother’s death. Before Versace was sold to Michael Kors for 2 billion in 2018, Donatella’s stock was the group’s vice president and shareholder for 20% of the entire assets. Today she is the chief designer of the fashion line together with her brother Santo. During the years of her presidency in Versace, Donatella literally made the Versace world an iconic lifestyle. In 2000 she created the famous transparent green dress, worn for the second time by Jennifer Lopez at the latest SS presentations in Milan, in 2002 some of her most famous garments were exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, to celebrate her extraordinary success all over the world. Today Donatella is an icon, who will forever remain in the Olympus of the women who wrote the history of costume.
VITTORIA CERETTI
Born in 1998, Vittoria Ceretti, is one of the most famous Italian top models in the world. Born in Brescia she began her modeling career by participating in the Elite Model Look competition in 2012. Her debut on the catwalk is with Dolce and Gabbana and today she boasts hundreds of fashion shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris for some of the most luxurious brands on the planet: Chanel, for which is an ambassador, Proenza Schouler, Michael Kors, Anna Sui, Tommy Hilfiger, Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, JW Anderson, Burberry, Versace, Prada, Dior, Valentino and many others. She is the protagonist in the campaigns of Dolce and Gabbana, Giorgio Armani and Tiffany. In 2015, three years after her debut, she entered the # TOP50 of models.com. She has collaborated with photographers of the caliber of Steven Meisel and Mario Testino and today she is the model that everyone wants, not least Fendi, Alexander McQueen and Bottega Veneta.
ALBERTA FERRETTI
Another great pink name of Italian fashion, Alberta Ferretti owns the eponymous brand and the Aeffe group. Growing up between fabrics thanks to her mother’s tailoring activity in Cattolica, Alberta began her career in fashion at a very young age by opening the Jolly Shop at just 18 years, where brands and garments of her own creation are sold. In 1974 she signed her first collection and founded the Aeffe company with her brother Massimo. A few years later she opened her first showroom in Milan, immediately starting to make her name resound among the city’s catwalks. In 1983 she began her collaboration with Franco Moschino which led to the birth of Philosophy by Alberta Ferretti, later renamed in 2014 Philosophy by Lorenzo Serafini. She collaborated with famous names in the sector including Jean Paul Gaultier and Narciso Rodriguez. Her fame comes overseas with the American headquarters of Aeffe which will lead her to work closely with icons such as Sandra Bullock, Susan Sarandon, Katy Perry, Due Lipa, Céline Dion, Jane Fonda and many others. Her Aeffe group today includes 5 illustrious brands in the current fashion scene: Alberta Ferretti, Moschino, Philosophy by Lorenzo Serafini, Pollini and Jeremy Scott. Alberta Ferretti has received worldwide recognition: Knight of Labor from the President of the Italian Republic, Best Fashion Designer of the Year from Marie Claire, The Romantics of the International Fashion Group of New York and many others.
LUCIA PICA
Global Creative Makeup and Color designer of Chanel, Lucia Pica is the most famous beauty trend hunter in the world. Her work leads her to travel the world in search of colors and, when she doesn’t, she uses the most beautiful faces in the world as canvases to create enchanting make-up. Her headquarter is now Paris, where she returns after each of her travels to elect the 50 or more colors that will become part of the new Chanel Beauty collection. Joined by the Chanel family in 2015, Lucia is of Neapolitan origin but has been living around the world for more than a decade: first London for her studies at the Greasepaint Make-Up Academy then in Paris for the Coco’s maison. She has worked with models such as Kate Moss, Lara Stone, Cara Delevigne and Jourdan Dann for the covers of Vogue, Vogue Paris, Vogue Interview, Dazed & Confused and i-D. Among the brands that have chosen it: Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Aquascutum and Louis Vuitton.
MARIA GRAZIA CHIURI
Last but certainly not least, Maria Grazia Chiuri the woman who transformed the Christian Dior Maison. Born in Rome, Maria Grazia is a woman who believes in women to the point of making this value one of the new creeds of the Dior fashion house. Graduated from the IED, European Institute of Design, Maria Grazia began her career with one of the most famous Roman luxury brands: Fendi. It was precisely here that the talent of Maria Grazia got the first awards, in particular during her realization of the brand’s famous Baguette Bag. A little later she was recruited by the designer Pier Paolo Piccioli who wrote with her a long four-handed chapter in the history of Valentino. Their work has won many awards including the CFDA International Award. In 2016, after the professional separation with Piccioli, Maria Grazia Chiuri became the creative director of Dior, becoming the first woman to head the brand since its birth (70 years ago!) And in a list that sees her counted among designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Gianfranco Ferre and John Galliano. Her campaigns, focused on women and their power, are rewriting a new sweet chapter of feminism 2.0.