Tory Burch and Pierre-Yves Roussel Join the BoF CROSSROADS Speaker Lineup

The Business of Fashion is pleased to announce the latest confirmed speakers for BoF CROSSROADS 2025, our new invitation-only gathering of top business and creative leaders focused on seizing opportunities in the Middle East, Central and South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Founder of her namesake brand Tory Burch and chief executive Pierre-Yves Roussel will join BoF’s founder and CEO Imran Amed to chart the brand’s journey and growth, and gain an insight into how they are engaging customers in fashion’s rising global markets. Matteo Ward, chief executive of Inside Out Fashion, Textiles and Home will join BoF’s chief sustainability correspondent Sarah Kent to discuss why the company is betting $300 million that sustainable brands can sell.

Also joining the speaker lineup are:

• Hind Seddiqi, chief executive of Dubai Watch Week, one of the largest global horology gatherings (UAE)
• Kenza Sophie Fourati, co-founder and president of Osay The Label, an artisan-centric, sustainable footwear brand (Tunisia)
• Osama Chabbi, fashion critic and commentator (UAE)
• Rabia Zargarpur, founder, chief executive and creative director of modest fashion brand Rabia Z and Modest Fashion Academy (UAE)
• Sally Mousa, senior presenter at Forbes Middle East (UAE)

They join an already outstanding line-up of industry speakers including Her Highness Princess Noura Bint Faisal Al Saud, Al Tayer Insignia managing director and Ounass chief executive officer Khalid Al Tayer, Rym Beydoun, the Lebanese-born, Côte d’Ivoire-raised designer of Super Yaya, leading Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Thai actress Praya Lundberg, chief executive of Indonesian modest fashion brand Buttonscarves Linda Anggrea and more in-depth discussions across two in-depth content sessions:

Session 1: OPPORTUNITIES

From rising manufacturing hubs to burgeoning currents of soft power, global businesses can no longer afford to neglect the opportunities unfolding in the global south. Here we unpack the most exciting shifts taking place across the world’s fastest-growing markets, and broader implications for the fashion, luxury and beauty industries.

Session 2: EXECUTION

With so much to learn, who’s making the most of fashion’s shifting centre of gravity? We’ll meet and glean insights from the best-in-class creatives, executives and entrepreneurs leveraging changing market dynamics for sustainable growth.

For the full list of confirmed speakers click here.

A limited number of invitation-only tickets remain to join us in person at the One&Only One Za’abeel Hotel in Dubai. To request an invitation, please complete this form.

If you are interested in speaking opportunities, please contact niamh.coombes@businessoffashion.com

To learn more about partnership opportunities, please click here.

BoF CROSSROADS 2025 is made possible in part by our partners Diriyah Company, Ounass, Snapchat, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, Wheely,and Kerzner International, owner of One&Only luxury resorts.

Tory Burch is the Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Tory Burch LLC. Burch grew up in Pennsylvania and studied art history at the University of Pennsylvania before she moved to New York and worked for Zoran, Harper’s Bazaar, Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang, and Loewe. Burch launched her company in 2004 with a clear purpose: to build a global luxury brand and a foundation that would advance women’s economic power. She started with a boutique in New York and an e-commerce site; there are now 400 stores and 13 e-commerce sites globally.

Burch has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the 2024 TIME 100, Harper’s Bazaar’s Designer of the Year and Forbes’s Most Powerful Women in the World, and her designs have been featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.

Pierre-Yves Roussel is the Chief Executive Officer of Tory Burch. Since 2019, he has led the brand’s accelerated global expansion, enhanced infrastructure, and reinforced Burch’s position as a leading American fashion designer. Prior to joining Tory Burch, Roussel was chairman and CEO of LVMH Fashion Group for 15 years. He reinvigorated several of the conglomerate’s luxury houses, often by installing young, innovative designers at the helm. From Jonathan Anderson at Loewe to Phoebe Philo at Céline, he is regarded for his ability to identify talent and take risks that yield outsize results. He has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, a post-graduate degree from Brussels University, and a B.S. in economics from École Supérieure de Commerce in Paris.

Matteo Ward is an Italian entrepreneur and sustainability advocate, and now CEO of Inside Out Fashion, Textiles, Home based out of Rome, Italy. He is best known as the CEO and co-founder of Wråd, a design studio dedicated to sustainable innovation and social change which was recently acquired by Inside Out. He earned a degree in International Economics from Bocconi University in 2008 and later pursued Business Sustainability Management at the University of Cambridge. Before establishing Wråd, Matteo spent six years with Abercrombie & Fitch, where he served as a Senior Manager in Germany and co-chaired the company’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Council.

Sally Mousa is a senior presenter, and keynote speaker who has interviewed many of the world’s most influential change-makers over the last two decades. From Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal to Hollywood superstars such as Will Smith and Steve Harvey, Olympic medallists like Ibtihaj Muhammad to visionaries and thought leaders like Dr Jane Goodall and Robin Sharma, Mousa has a gift for telling the stories of those who have made a global impact.

She currently hosts Power Play on Forbes Middle East, featuring the people shaping ideas, cultures and industries. Mousa has been a presenter and producer on some of the region’s top platforms, where she created, presented and produced highly acclaimed shows highlighting stories that speak to and inspire a global audience.

Rabia Z. Zargarpur, is the chief executive and creative director of Rabia Z, Rabia Z. Zargarpur Consultancy and Modest Fashion Academy. Known as the “First Lady of Modest Fashion,” Zargarpur has over 25 years of experience in both mainstream and modest design. A multi-award-winning entrepreneur and designer, she has not merely participated in but fundamentally redefined the industry. Her eponymous brand, Rabia Z., spans over 85 countries, and her runway presentations from New York to Dubai showcase her commitment to innovative, sustainable design. Beyond her creative prowess, Zargarpur is a highly sought-after consultant, advisor, and mentor, driving women’s empowerment and contributing significantly to the global Islamic economy.

Kenza Fourati is a Tunisian, French and American entrepreneur, fashion model, activist, and writer. As one of the first models from the Arab world to break into the global fashion industry, she built an international career across Europe, the U.S., and the Middle East, working with top fashion houses like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Armani. She has appeared in Vogue, Elle, and L’Officiel, collaborating with some of the most renowned designers, photographers, and creatives. She has also worked as a host and speaker, contributing to cultural and fashion programs.

In 2018, she co-founded Osay (Our Stories Are Yours), a luxury footwear brand that upcycles leather and supports artisan craftsmanship in Tunisia.

Hind Abdul Hamied Seddiqi is the chief marketing and communications officer at Seddiqi Holding and chief executive of Dubai Watch Week. She joined Seddiqi Holding in 2007 and is responsible for steering the marketing and communications strategies across all business units. Seddiqi’s passion for horology resulted in the establishment of Dubai Watch Week in 2015, a global non-commercial platform dedicated to the preservation of horology and its custodians. By uniting the watch community and providing an educational platform, Dubai Watch Week has evolved into a key calendar biennial event and has entrenched Dubai as a global hub in the horology and luxury industry. Seddiqi is a member of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy board which was formed under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai to lead a comprehensive economic development in Dubai and boost its position as a global business hub.

Osama Chabbi is a stylist and commentator. Based in Dubai, the Tunisian-French creative who grew up in Lyon has worked with brands and retailers such as Amina Muaddi, Chanel, Prada and Farfetch, among other notable names. A leading voice on the next generation of fashion discourse, his extensive knowledge of the industry and unique digital-first approach have put Chabbi’s seasonal fashion reviews at the forefront of contemporary fashion analysis. Chabbi’s acclaimed social media format has caught the attention of storied maisons, including Louis Vuitton, Jean Paul Gaultier and Gucci.

Her Highness Princess Noura Bint Faisal Al Saud is the founder of Culture House, a creative agency specialising in cultural activations and innovative communication solutions. After successfully leading high-profile, large-scale projects in Saudi Arabia, including the Kingdom’s first- ever Fashion Week, Her Highness Princess Noura bint Faisal AlSaud joined the Ministry of Culture’s Fashion Commission, where she shaped the nation’s fashion industry strategy and launched Saudi Arabia’s first fashion mentorship programs. Recognized for her leadership, she was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2023 and appointed Chairwoman of the Forbes Middle East Women’s Summit. In 2024, Al Othaim Investment appointed her as Advisor to the Group CEO and later as CEO of Al Othaim Culture where she spearheaded fashion and cultural initiatives. That same year, Princess Noura was recognized among the BOF 500, the definitive index of global fashion leaders, further solidifying her influence in the industry. After completing her mission with Al Othaim in early 2025, she resumed her role as CEO of Culture House, continuing her work in driving cultural innovation and creative strategies

Khalid Al Tayer is the Managing Director of Al Tayer Insignia, the retail business of Al Tayer Group, and the CEO of Ounass, its proprietary luxury ecommerce site. Al Tayer Insignia represents over 60 luxury, lifestyle, beauty and hospitality brands including Harvey Nichols-Dubai, Bloomingdale’s (Dubai and Kuwait), Armani, Coach, Boucheron, Kiehl’s, and Gap. It has established Joint Venture arrangements with Kering (Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, and Alexander McQueen), LVMH (Bulgari, Loro Piana, and Guerlain), Prada Group (Prada and Miu Miu), Ermenegildo Zegna, Brunello Cucinelli, Jimmy Choo, Thom Browne, and MCM. Khalid currently serves on the Boards of Taaleem, the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, the Intercontinental Group of Department Stores, the Fashion Commission at the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Retail Business Group at the Dubai Chamber. Prior to joining Al Tayer Group in 2005, Khalid founded an internet startup (makook.com),and worked at McKinsey & Co. and Emirates Financial Services. Khalid graduated with a Bachelor of Science in entrepreneurship, corporate finance, and economics from Babson College in the US in 1999.

Carla Fernández is a designer, activist and founder of the fashion brand of the same name. A pioneering figure in her native Mexico, Fernández has been at the forefront of the ethical fashion movement for years. Through a diverse range of collaborations with 200 artisans across 16 Mexican states, she helps document and preserve the rich textile heritage of Mexico’s indigenous communities through her brand. One of her three stores in the country, the Calle Marsella location in Mexico City, doubles as a home for folk art, promoting the work of indigenous, mestizo and Afro-Mexican communities. Blending the avant-garde with ancient handicrafts and sustainable sourcing practices, her signature style has earned her a cult following across Latin America. In 2018, she presented her manifesto ‘Fashion as Resistance’ at the Victoria & Albert (V&A) in London, alongside pieces from five collections highlighting the designer’s commitment to decolonisation, intersectionality and social justice. The same year, Fernández was the recipient of Design Miami’s Design Visionary Award. In 2023, she was the subject of an exhibition at La Galerie du 19M, Chanel’s Metiers d’Art centre in Paris.

Felipe Matayoshi is the Founder and Creative Director of PACE. He has provided design consulting for companies within the Arezzo Group and Havaianas. In 2021, he was named to the Forbes Under 30 list. In 2024, he received the GQ Brazil Men of the Year award in fashion and was recognized as one of the Hypebeast100 Next.

Rym Beydoun is the founder and creative director of Super Yaya, a brand that explores West African culture and textiles. After graduating from Central Saint Martins’ womenswear program, the Lebanese-born, Côte d’Ivoire–raised creative Beydoun returned home to launch her brand in 2015. As a fourth-generation member of a Lebanese immigrant family in West Africa, Beydoun immediately felt at once immersed in, yet apart from, the culture, and sought to create a forward-thinking line that locals would feel proud to wear. Most of the fabrics used to create the collections are handpicked, hand dyed and printed in Cote d’Ivoire before arriving and being transformed in-house in Beirut.

Jaggy Glarino is a Filipino fashion designer recognized for his intuitive approach to garment construction, bold design sensibilities, and multi-dimensional artistry. A self-taught talent with a background in nursing, Glarino’s unconventional journey into fashion has led to a distinctive aesthetic that straddles the line between wearability and avant-garde expression. Deeply connected to his Filipino roots, he infuses his heritage into his work, reinterpreting tradition through a contemporary lens. His trajectory includes accolades from the Bench Design Awards, Tokyo Fashion Week, and short courses at London’s Central Saint Martins, affirming his status as a force reshaping Filipino fashion on the global stage.

Sabyasachi Mukherjee is the founder of Sabyasachi, a luxury design house based in India. He set up his eponymous studio with a workforce of three people in 1999 and as a market leader, Mukherjee became the first Indian designer and brand to collaborate with Estée Lauder, H&M, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks, Pottery Barn, Disney, Thomas Goode, Morgenthal Frederics and Christian Louboutin. Patrons of the brand include celebrities, royals and intellectuals. With the brand’s evolution, Mukherjee has also helmed a number of initiatives, both non-profit and for-profit including the Save The Sari project and the Sabyasachi Art Foundation, working closely with artisans and artists on models of economic sustainability. With flagship stores in most major cities across India, he launched his first international store in New York in 2022.

Linda Anggrea is the founder and chief executive of Modinity Group, a fashion and lifestyle firm in South East Asia. Anggrea’s career began in finance, and in 2016, she ventured into entrepreneurship, launching Buttonscarves. Expanding beyond scarves, Buttonscarves now offers bags, footwear, apparel, and more. The label has stores across Southeast Asia and a strong digital presence. Under Anggrea’s leadership, Buttonscarves became the launchpad for a growing ecosystem of multiple brands spanning fashion, beauty and lifestyle that turned into Modinity Group. Through Modinity Group, Anggrea hopes to continue to set new industry standards, championing modern sophistication, and innovation.

Anand S. Ahuja is the founder and chief executive of Bhaane Group, an organisation responsible for facilitating the entry and growth of global brands in the Indian market. The group’s current portfolio includes Nike, Converse, NBA Stores and Amiri. Ahuja is the son of Harish Ahuja, the founder of Shahi Exports, one of India’s largest apparel manufacturing companies. Growing up in the Ahuja family, Ahuja was inspired to blend traditional values with modern retail strategies. His latest venture was the launch of the Amiri store at The Chanakya mall.

Kerim Ture is the founder of Modanisa.com, a modest fashion e-commerce platform serving customers in over 100 countries. With this venture Ture hopes to be instrumental in bridging the gap between tradition and innovation by empowering Muslim women worldwide with accessible, stylish, and diverse fashion choices. He is also the co-founder of Salam Booking, a travel platform addressing the underrepresented needs of the global Muslim community by offering tailored, Muslim-friendly travel experiences and Umrah packages. His understanding of e-commerce and a passion for creating inclusive global brands, Ture’s expertise lies in scaling businesses, fostering innovation, and addressing the unique needs of niche markets.

Maryse Mbonyumutwa is the founder and chief executive of Pink Mango, an export-oriented garment manufacturer based in Kigali, Rwanda. Pink Mango employs over 1,300 workers, 70 percent of whom are women. Mbonyumutwa founded the business in 2017 after realising Africa’s potential as a global fashion hub and catalyst for driving sustainable industrialisation. Mbonyumutwa is also the founder of Asantii, a contemporary Pan-African clothing brand that celebrates the continent’s heritage, craftsmanship, and sustainability. Launched in 2022, Asantii has collaborated with African designers and is available online and in select concept stores across Africa, Europe, and the US. Mbonyumutwa is a member of the BoF 500.

Iretidayo ‘Ireti’ Zaccheaus is the founder and chief executive of Street Souk, an African streetwear community and convention she launched in 2018. In 2023, Zaccheaus toured with Street Souk, showcasing African streetwear brands in seven cities: London, Los Angeles, Dubai, Abuja, Lagos, Accra, and Cape Town. Zaccheaus has also worked as a creative and cultural consultant for Nike, Topicals and Apple, as well as for artists Davido, Tiwa Savage and Rema. She was inducted to the 2024 class of the BoF 500.

Laduma Ngxokolo is the founder and chief creative director at MaXhosa Africa, a global luxury fashion brand that merges the aesthetics of Xhosa people, a South African ethnic group, with contemporary appeal. Inspired by intricate beadwork patterns worn by Xhosa initiates, Laduma transformed knitwear into a bold cultural statement. His designs have been shown on the runways of Paris, Milan, and New York. Beyond clothing, MaXhosa Africa has grown into a lifestyle brand, bringing African heritage into homes through carefully crafted interiors. Ngxokolo’s work has been showcased in museums like the Smithsonian and MoMA. With each collection, Ngxokolo hopes to push boundaries, ensuring that African design is not only preserved but celebrated in bold new ways.

Reni Folawiyo is the founder and director of Alara – Africa’s leading space for culture, fashion, art, food, and design, on Lagos’ Victoria Island. Folawiyo has been a foundational guiding force in discovering, growing and celebrating many of the leading creatives working in Africa today. Folawiyo has received numerous awards and recognition for her work and cultural leadership, including being named one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business by Forbes Africa in 2020. Alara has been celebrated in Architectural Digest and the Wall Street Journal. Prior to launching her business in the cultural sphere, Folawiyo spent her early career practicing law. Folawiyo received her Bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Warwick.

Aika Alemi is an artist, business coach, mentor, and author. She is also the founder and director of Born Nomad and is the director of Central Asia Creative Incubator. She contributes to Elle Kazakhstan and Forbes Kazakhstan. Alemi was a womenswear finalist for the International Woolmark Prize 2017 and was awarded Best Mentor of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Women Entrepreneurs Programme 2018. She has organised over 50 major events including CentralAsia Creative Incubator, Responsible Fashion Series Silk Road and Shymkent Art Days. She holds an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

Kiran Haslam is the chief marketing officer for Diriyah Company, an organisation responsible for executing the Diriyah Project, or the transformation of Saudi Arabia as a cultural and tourist destination. Haslam is responsible for re-establishing Diriyah’s position within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and globally as not just as the birthplace of the Kingdom, but also as a centre for the preservation of heritage and perpetuator of Saudi culture and heritage. Prior to joining Diriyah Company, Haslam’s played a key role in the reinvention of luxury brands. He has established and branded progressive media platforms in the Middle East; authored two children’s story books; and toured the world as a musician and composer. Haslam holds degrees from Deakin University and the Berklee College of Music.

Rozan Ahmed is an award-winning Sudanese-British writer, curator and diplomatic advisor. She is internationally renowned for her visionary direction in CCI – an acronym she coined in 2016 to highlight “Creative & Cultural Industries” from the Global South, particularly the African and Arabian regions. Ministerial in approach and leading in her cause, Ahmed has carved a multidisciplinary career that effectively mirrors her multicultural background.

Ahmed pioneered the concept of “strategic storytelling” as a crucial tool in nation-building, harnessing CCI to reclaim identity, promote tourism and enhance international relations. In cultural diplomacy, she advises governments, civil institutions and global brands on leveraging creativity for global engagement, investment and appeal. Additionally, and in the field of sports, she made history as the first – and only – woman to introduce boxing to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Her philanthropic initiatives include The Magic Drive, a power program using fashion to build confidence and capacity among young people in Kenya and beyond. As an activist, she amplifies awareness, education and advocacy for her war-torn homeland of Sudan. Ahmed’s legacy of third culture ownership has received honors and awards in the UK, UAE, Kenya and Nigeria for her transformative contributions to fashion, music, tourism and cultural development.

A mastermind of what she calls “human globalization”, Ahmed continues to redefine hegemony, redirect creative agendas toward local priority, and inspire new ideas in view of “belonging” worldwide.

Imran Amed is founder, CEO and editor-in-chief of The Business of Fashion, the upstart media company that has grown from a blog into the most trusted global authority on the $3 trillion fashion, luxury and beauty industries. BoF serves 100,000 paying members and reaches more than 1 million email subscribers in 190 countries.

An indispensable resource for executives, designers, investors and students, BoF combines independent, agenda-setting journalism with strategic business advice, online learning, career-building tools and immersive events, driving smarter decision-making and powering positive change in fashion and the wider world.

The proud son of first generation immigrants from Kenya and Tanzania, Amed is Canadian by birth, Indian by ethnicity, East African by heritage, and a Londoner by choice. Amed has an MBA from Harvard Business School, a B.Com from McGill University and an honorary doctorate from Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design. Previously, he was a management consultant at McKinsey & Co. In 2017, Amed was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II as Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the fashion industry.