1. Sophia Amoruso

I don’t know what hole you’ve been living under if you don’t know who Sophia Amoruso is—it’s probably one without WiFi or Barnes & Noble! Sophia Amoruso built her iconic brand, Nasty Gal, completely from the ground up. She literally started her business by picking through vintage and secondhand stores, curating the best pieces, and selling them online while living in a rented pool house. Over the years, she grew into an executive powerhouse behind a multi-million dollar brand and penned her hit memoir, #GirlBoss. Much like Diane von Furstenberg, who also built a fashion legacy from passion, Sophia demonstrates how grit and vision pay off. If she doesn’t already inspire you on a daily basis, she definitely will!

2. Aly Silverio

Aly Silverio started her jewelry line when she was just fifteen, which rapidly grew into a full-scale clothing line. Celebrities like One Direction, 5 Seconds of Summer, Kylie Jenner, and cast members of Orange is the New Black have all worn her eye-catching designs. Her clothes ended up everywhere, and you’ve probably seen them on most of your favorite stars without even realizing it. Much like fellow digital pioneers like Bethany Mota, Aly proved that youth is no barrier to entrepreneurial success. If you’re young and eager to launch your own business, there’s no better role model to look up to than Aly Silverio.

3. Cindi Leive

You may not know Cindi Leive by name, but you almost certainly know her work. As the former editor-in-chief of Glamour magazine, she led one of the most popular fashion publications on newsstands. Glamour stood out as one of the most relatable and accessible fashion magazines available. Sure, we all love to flip through an issue of Vogue, but can most of us really afford every designer outfit on those pages? Cindi Leive skillfully revitalized Glamour, and if you aspire to a career in fashion editorial, publishing, or media, she is an incredible figure to study and look up to.

4. Bethany Mota

Bethany Mota built one of the biggest fanbases on the Internet at a remarkably young age, turning her online presence into her very own fashion line. She cultivated a massive audience on YouTube based on her accessible style, becoming one of the premier fashion creators of the digital era. It’s not every day that content creators transition into major retail apparel lines, following in the self-made footsteps of visionaries like Sophia Amoruso. Bethany Mota proved that personal branding can take your fashion career to whole new heights!

5. Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss

These ladies are incredible, innovative entrepreneurs! Rather than taking the traditional route of launching a standard clothing line after college, Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss co-founded Rent the Runway. This groundbreaking platform allows women to rent high-end designer dresses and accessories for a fraction of the retail price. It was a disruptive business idea that transformed how women approach special occasion style and everyday wardrobe choices.

6. Diane Von Furstenberg

I think we can all agree that Diane von Furstenberg is one of the most iconic figures in fashion history. Despite marrying into royalty, she insisted on carving out her own independent career and began designing clothes shortly after her wedding. Her passion for design birthed the legendary wrap dress, cementing her place as an enduring titan of the fashion world. Alongside executive icons like Tory Burch, Diane demonstrates how enduring vision and determination build a timeless brand legacy.

7. Tory Burch

Although Tory Burch started small with a modest retail boutique in Manhattan, her brand didn’t remain small for very long. Just over a year after opening her doors, her line was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, which rocketed her brand recognition overnight. Since then, Tory Burch has built a global fashion powerhouse, making her an extraordinary role model for aspiring fashion designers and entrepreneurs everywhere.

Which fashion entrepreneurs do you look up to? Let me know in the comments!