LAKE COMO, Italy — On the eve of Milan Design Week, Imran Amed, founder and editor-in-chief of The Business of Fashion and Tina Edmundson, president of luxury at Marriott International, hosted an intimate Luxury Leaders Salon at the newly opened Lake Como Edition hotel.
The salon convened a curated group of 15 individuals shaping the industry’s future — from founders and C-suite executives, to creative directors and industry leaders across fashion, beauty, design and the wider luxury ecosystem.
The intimate setting enabled candid, cross-industry dialogue — and fostered meaningful relationships at a time of structural change across the sector.
“Luxury has had an extraordinary run, but we’re entering a more complex phase, where some of the definitions we’ve relied on around value, exclusivity and creativity are being tested,” shared Amed, in his welcoming remarks.
Following an aperitivo on the Renzo Terrace, guests were invited to dinner, where conversation unfolded through four focused discussion groups. Attendees were invited to engage with a key question: if luxury were to rebuild itself today, which principles or core pillars would remain, and what would be consigned to the past?
Each table approached this idea through a distinct but cross-disciplinary lens. Some guests interrogated the impacts of scale on integrity, while others focused on the disconnect between brand promise and reality, considering whether the industry truly comprehends the shifting expectations of today’s luxury consumer. Many addressed the pressure for originality as creativity plays an increasingly important role in differentiation.
Beyond aesthetics, the conversations also unpacked the structural foundations required to engage a new generation, while other participants explored the specific values and operating models that must define a contemporary brand to ensure long-term relevance.
As dinner came to a close and after a fruitful and open exchange under Chatham House Rules, guests continued the evening with late-night drinks in the hotel lobby.
Guests in attendance included: Robert Triefus, CEO of Stone Island, Carla Sozzani, founder of 10 Corso Como, Gianvito Rossi, founder and creative director of Gianvito Rossi, Jonathan Kiman, CMO of Burberry, Fabrizio Cardinali, CEO of Etro, Sandra Choi, creative director of Jimmy Choo, Edward Buchanan, founder and creative director of Sansovino 6 and fashion director of The Perfect Magazine, Charles Rosier, co-founder and CEO of Augustinus Bader, Margherita Cardelli Cavaliere, co-founder and co-founder of Giuliva Heritage, JJ Martin, founder of La DoubleJ, Margherita Missoni, founder and creative director of Maccapani, Yuta Ishihara, founder of Shihara, Yasmin Sewell, founder and CEO of Vyrao, Drew Elliott, chief brand officer of Kiko Milano, Britt Moran, co-founder of Dimore Studio and Giuliano Calza, co-founder and creative director of GCDS.
The gathering builds on BoF’s ongoing mission to convene industry decision-makers in focused, off-the-record settings.
Interested leaders may enquire about participation by contacting BoF’s chief business officer, Johanna Stout.
