Diane von Furstenberg, BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Founder, DVF

Diane von Furstenberg first arrived in the fashion world in 1972 with her iconic wrap dress, the seed of what is today a full fashion house. By 1976, Diane had sold millions of her dresses, coming to symbolize female power and freedom to an entire generation. In 1997, after a hiatus from fashion, Diane reemerged on the New York fashion scene with the re-launch of the dress that had started it all and began transforming her company into the global luxury lifestyle brand it is today. In 2005, Diane was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) for her impact on fashion, and one year later, was elected the CFDA’s new President, an office she continues to hold. A firm believer in the power of women, Diane sits on the Board of Vital Voices, a women leadership organization that empowers emerging women leaders and social entrepreneurs around the world.