Elle UK – September 2019

ELLE.COM/UKSeptember2O19

ELLEPower List

The catwalkcrusader:

NATHANWESTLING

Model

Flame-hairedWestlinghas

captivatedtheindustrylikenoone

else.The23-year-oldrosetothe

topasa femalemodel,walking

forbrandssuchasDiorandFendi.

Earlierthisyear,however,hecame

outastransgenderandmade

hismensweardebutatPrada

SS2O.Nobodyhasshapedthe

conversationaroundtransgender

modelsasmuchasWestling,

whohasshownwhatsuccess

lookslikefroma newperspective.

The rule-breaker: ALESSANDRO MICHELE

Creative Director at Gucci

Thank Michele for your renewed interest in maximalism, flamboyant

layering, vintage and even (whisper it) bejewelled denim. But

his real power lies in his ability to reimagine luxury for a new

generation. The 47-year-old designer has used every conceivable

platform to give Gucci peak cultural kudos, from collaborations

with graffiti artist GucciGhost to creating experiental stores. The

result? Gucci is one of the world’s fastest-growing luxury brands.

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The leader:

MARIE-CL AIRE DAVEU

Chief sustainability

officer at Kering

Key to Gucci’s decision to go

fur-free in 2O18, Daveu is the

industry expert when it comes

to sustainability. And if the next

shirt you buy is made of spider

silk or a bag from fishing-net fibres,

they have probably been made

in one of Daveu’s innovation

labs. More than anything, she

is showing the rest of the industry

that being eco-friendly can be

a lucrative business model.

Alessandro Michele

Nathan Westling

Marie-Claire Daveu

ECO WARRIOR

Daveu is the

go-to expert for

Photography: Gett y Images / Shutterstock. Christopher Sturman, Pamela Hanson/Trunk Archive. sustainability

BEST IN SHOW

Michele has

reimagined

Gucci for a new

generation