Welcome to the 2021 Power 50 list, which ranks the most influential people in the industry.

24. Chris Blakeslee

BELLA+CANVAS (asi/39590)

2020 Rank: 38 

Title: President

Industry Experience: 11 years

High influence as rated by Power 50 members and his company’s proclivity to produce garments that set, rather than follow, trends helped rocket Blakeslee 14 spots up on this year’s list. BELLA caught the industry’s attention earlier this year when it brought on Blakeslee’s former alphabroder boss Norm Hullinger (who ranked #5 on last year’s Power 50 list) as chief operating officer. Blakeslee’s emphasis on philanthropy, sustainability and wellness – such as his pandemic pledge to donate 1 million masks to organizations directly serving homeless communities, shelters, hospitals, doctors and nurses – continues to be a model for others in the industry to look toward.