Since its inception in 2001, the International Herald Tribune’s annual Luxury business conference has become the essential forum for the discussion and exchange of ideas for the fashion and luxury industry.

Entitled Heritage Luxury, the conference will explore how luxury brands are created, nurtured and maintained. It will address the need to sustain founding principals or create a heritage, while adapting to consumers’ changing habits and connecting with them through traditional and digital channels.

Speakers include Alber Elbaz, artistic director, Lanvin; Karl Lagerfeld, designer; Angela Ahrendts, CEO, Burberry; Christopher Bailey, chief creative officer, Burberry; Carlos Jereissati, CEO, Iguatemi, Brazil; David Lauren, senior vice president, Polo Ralph Lauren; Tommy Hilfiger, designer; Rosita, Angela and Margherita Missoni; Michele Norsa, CEO and group managing director, Salvatore Ferragamo Italia S.p.A.; Patrizio di Marco, president and CEO, Gucci; Stanislas de Quercize, president & CEO, Van Cleef & Arpels; and Paul Smith, designer.

Suzy Menkes, the IHT’s internationally renowned fashion editor and conference chair, said: “Since we launched the luxury conference series a decade ago we have travelled the globe holding it in different cities, each of which contributes something unique and special to the luxury industry. We have chosen to hold Heritage Luxury in London because of its importance as home to some of the world’s major heritage brands.”

British born and Cambridge educated, Ms Menkes forms part of the fabric of London’s fashion community. She holds an Order of the British Empire for “services to fashion journalism” and has written a number of books on the British royal family.

The IHT’s highly regarded annual luxury conference series has become a well-established forum for the industry. Since its inception in Paris, where it spent its first three years, the events have been held in Hong Kong, Dubai, Istanbul, Moscow, New Delhi and Berlin. Among previous speakers are Bernard Arnault, François-Henri Pinault, Giorgio Armani, Tom Ford and Ralph Lauren. The events provide a meeting place where creative and business leaders from the international luxury and style sector gather, offering conference delegates from as many as 40 other countries the chance to gain insight and develop their knowledge and expertise.