Pakistan now has two designers in the Business of Fashion’s influential global index. Streetwear designer Zain Ahmad is among this year’s additions to the BoF 500, joining luxury couturier Faraz Manan, who entered in 2024.
The index recognizes people shaping the fashion industry through design, business and culture. BoF’s editors choose members after nominations, research and interviews. Newcomers join a community that includes established industry leaders.
The two Pakistanis reached international recognition by different routes. Ahmad’s Lahore-based label, Rastah, blends traditional textile techniques with contemporary streetwear. Manan’s bridal and formal wear has drawn customers across South Asia and the Middle East.
In the announcement, BoF founder and editor-in-chief Imran Amed said Rastah had become profitable by using traditional hand looms and block printing in streetwear-inflected garments. He added that the clothing had found favor with Hollywood stars and international musicians.
Founded in 2018, Rastah has been worn by Justin Bieber, Timothée Chalamet, Zayn Malik and Barry Keoghan, according to BoF’s reporting.
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Citing Ahmad, the publication said the label earned gross revenue of $2.2 million in 2025 and turned a profit that year. Ahmad said the United States is its biggest overseas market and that about 30 percent of its customers are not South Asian, suggesting an audience beyond the diaspora.
Manan, founder and creative director of his namesake luxury label, has built an international clientele with clothing that pairs elaborate embellishment with contemporary silhouettes.
He opened a boutique in Dubai in 2015, serving both diaspora and local customers in the Middle East. According to his BoF profile, his designs have also attracted leading Bollywood celebrities.
Established in 2013, BoF 500 has grown to 1,713 members, including 100 added this year across categories such as designers, executives, entrepreneurs, retailers and media. Selection weighs leadership, creativity, innovation and social impact.
The index is an editorial selection, not a numerical ranking of designers or businesses. Its significance lies in the recognition it signals from a leading international fashion publication.
