The fashion industry is huge – no, seriously humongous, not to mention fast-paced – so to be named one of the world’s most influential is an extraordinary achievement.
The Business of Fashion (BoF), which is the “leading digital authority on the global fashion industry” that provides “fashion news, analysis and business intelligence,” has named the founder and chief executive of The Modest, Ghizlan Guenez, one of the 500 people who are “shaping the global industry.”
Ghizlan was elated when she took to Instagram after the announcement went public. She said that she is "beyond honoured to be included in the #BoF500” and called the award a “milestone."
As BoF lays out their choice, it becomes clear that Ghizlan’s work is not only about fashion per se, but about so much more. Of the significance and impact of The Modest, BoF says, “With offices in Dubai and London, and shipping to over 120 countries, The Modist aims to address an underserved market of women who want to dress fashionably yet in a demure way, across religions, age groups and ethnicities. Guenez is the first to tap into the growing market, spearheading women’s empowerment and the female gaze.”
Vogue has called The Modest “an e-commerce site deemed the Net-a-Porter of modest clothing,” and says that, “Thanks to (Ghizlan’s) site, modesty-oriented customers worldwide have a one-stop shop for luxury fashion.”
Ghizlan herself has said that she aims to change certain misperceptions when it comes to dressing modestly, especially the kind of thinking that sees modesty as belonging to a certain religion, a certain region, a particular age or particular look. She goes on to clarify: “We are saying that modesty can be so many different things, can be coveted by so many different women, and that it can be cool and beautiful and elegant and everything a woman wants.“
In summary, her styling advice is to stay true to yourself. She says that, “You have to relax about following anything and be authentic to you. What’s your innate style? I think once you find what works for you, it will come super naturally.”
