Dubai, UAE, 5 October 2023: Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President of Dubai Design District (d3) – part of TECOM Group PJSC, has earned a spot alongside global fashion industry mavens and luminaries in The Business of Fashion (BoF) 500 Class of 2023. The Business of Fashion announced the 100 new members to their BoF 500 global community this year before celebrating the new joiners, from some 44 nationalities, in a prestigious red carpet gala event in Paris on Saturday evening.

On behalf of d3, Khadija joins the definitive index of people shaping the global fashion industry, today and tomorrow, in the ‘catalysts’ category; other categories include designers, models and muses, creatives, entrepreneurs, executives, media and retailers.  This year marks 10 years of The BoF celebrating fashion trailblazers.

The inclusion of Khadija Al Bastaki in the 2023 listing marks a significant moment not only for Khadija in her role at d3, but also for d3 as the region’s leading creative hub and co-founder (with Arab Fashion Council) of the official Dubai Fashion Week, and furthermore for Dubai as a global capital of fashion.  The next edition of Dubai Fashion Week takes place 9-15 October with Carolina Herrera as this season’s guest of honour.

Khadija Al Bastaki said: “Earning a place among The Business of Fashion’s 500 Class of 2023 proves that Dubai Design District has achieved its founding purpose. Over a decade ago, d3 set out to provide a haven for the region’s creative community – from fashion and interior designers to architects and artists. It has since matured into a thriving, innovative global creative hub behind the region’s definitive fashion fixture, Dubai Fashion Week, co-founded with the Arab Fashion Council. Our long-term industry development strategy is paying off, magnifying Dubai’s influence in the global fashion industry.”

Khadija was selected for her role in strengthening Dubai’s status as a global creative capital through d3’s ecosystem. d3 is committed to unifying the regional fashion ecosystem, promoting emerging talent and providing international brands with a gateway to regional markets.

Dubai Fashion Week adds to d3’s calendar of design-focused events, including Sole DXB, a lifestyle and youth culture showcase, and Dubai Design Week, the region’s leading multidisciplinary luxury design exhibition.  Through d3, Khadija also champions grassroots creative talent, working closely with in5 Design, a start-up incubator by TECOM Group for design-led entrepreneurs, as well as the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI), which offers a curriculum crafted with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and The New School’s Parsons School of Design.

Among other new additions this year were: Pharrell Williams; reggaeton superstar Karol G; Gucci’s new Creative Director Sabato de Sarno; actors Margot Robbie and Anne Hathaway; designers La Quan Smith, Bianca Saunders and Nicolas di Felice; and athletes Hector Bellerin, Sir Lewis Hamilton and Russell Westbrook. Khadija was not the only d3-affiliated thought leader added to The BoF 500 – partners of d3-based lifestyle and culture festival, Sole DXB, Rajat Malhotra, Joshua Cox and Hussain Moloobhoy also joined the global community.

New entrants are selected for their leadership, creativity, innovation and impact and this is based on nominations from existing BoF 500 members, on-the-ground intelligence from around the world and in-depth research closely examined by BoF editors.  The 100 new members of The BoF Class of 2023 represent 44 nationalities based in 26 countries.  d3’s Khadija Al Bastaki joins as one of a small group from the MENA region.

Imran Amed, Founder and CEO of The Business of Fashion, said: “Ten years ago we set out to identify the people shaping the global fashion industry to recognise those who are driving exceptional innovation, change and creativity.  Starting with those 500 names, we have grown our index to include exciting talents representing more than 70 nationalities.  The combined experience, tenacity and drive of The BoF Class of 2023 is truly inspiring and illustrates how fashion, business, culture ad technology intersect.  We are delighted to welcome them all into our global community.”

The Business of Fashion is a next-generation media company recognised around the world for its authoritative, analytical point of view on the US$2.5 trillion global fashion industry.

Dubai Design District (d3) is part of TECOM Group’s business district portfolio, including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Science Park and Dubai Industrial City.