Áslaug Magnúsdóttir
Áslaug Magnúsdóttir | |
|---|---|
| Born | Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, business leader |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Known for | Founder of Katla; co-founder of Moda Operandi, TSM Capital, and Tinker Tailor |
Áslaug Magnúsdóttir is an entrepreneur and business leader from Iceland, known for founding Katla and co-founding Moda Operandi, TSM Capital, and Tinker Tailor. She held the position of CEO at Moda Operandi, a luxury fashion e-commerce platform, until her departure in 2013. Áslaug has earned recognition from Vogue as "fashion's fairy godmother" and was featured on Fast Company's list of the 100 Most Creative People in Business.
As a Fulbright scholar, Áslaug possesses an MBA from Harvard Business School, an LL.M. from Duke University School of Law, and a Candidate of Law degree from the University of Iceland.
Family and education
Born in Reykjavík, Iceland, Áslaug Magnúsdóttir is the daughter of Magnús Sigurðsson and Rakel Valdimarsdóttir. She has one sibling, a brother named Sigurður R. Magnússon. Raised between Los Angeles and Reykjavík, she earned her law degree from the University of Iceland in 1993. Subsequently, she received a Fulbright scholarship to pursue an LL.M. at Duke University and later completed her MBA at Harvard Business School in 2000, becoming the first Icelandic woman to graduate from that program.
From 1993 until 2000, Áslaug was married to Gunnar Thoroddsen, a lawyer who served as CEO of Landsbanki Luxembourg; he is the grandson of former Icelandic Prime Minister Gunnar Thoroddsen and great-grandson of President Ásgeir Ásgeirsson. They have a son, Gunnar A. Thoroddsen, who is the guitarist for Great Grief. Between 2005 and 2015, she was married to Gabriel Levy, a nightclub proprietor. In 2022, she wed Sacha Tueni, a technology entrepreneur; together they have a son named Ocean Thor Tueni.
Career
Áslaug’s professional journey began in Iceland where she led a modeling agency and served as chairperson of the National Ballet Company of Iceland before transitioning to work as a corporate and tax lawyer at Deloitte. After completing her graduate studies, she relocated to London to take on the role of Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company.
Fashion career
Her initial involvement in fashion started during college with managing a modeling agency. Áslaug’s career advanced at Baugur Group, an investment firm specializing in fashion and retail sectors, where she directed investments in emerging fashion brands. In 2006, she moved from London to New York City to become Vice President at Marvin Traub Associates.
In 2007, Áslaug collaborated with Marvin Traub—former CEO of Bloomingdale's—to establish TSM Capital, which invested in designer labels including Rachel Roy and Matthew Williamson. She also held the role of President for House of Waris Fine Jewelry, the brand created by actor and jewelry designer Waris Ahluwalia. In 2009, she joined Gilt Groupe as head of merchandising for Gilt Noir.
That year marked the inception of Moda Operandi, a pioneering "pre-tailer" platform enabling customers to pre-order runway collections. Co-founded with Lauren Santo Domingo, the company secured $36 million during its Series C funding round before Áslaug stepped down in 2013.
After departing Moda Operandi, she co-launched Tinker Tailor alongside Matthew Pavelle, Gabriel Levy, and Cleo Davis-Urman—a platform offering clients the ability to customize or create bespoke designer apparel. Tinker Tailor concluded operations in 2015.
In 2020, Áslaug introduced Katla, a fashion enterprise focused on sustainability principles. By 2022, she had been named Goodwill Ambassador for Fashion 4 Development, an initiative aligned with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals working closely with the UN Secretary-General's office.
Awards and honors
- Appointed Fashion 4 Development Goodwill Ambassador, 2022
- Honored with the Fashion 4 Development Award, 2022
- Featured in the BOF 500 list by The Business of Fashion, 2014
- Awarded the One To World Fulbright Award for Exceptional Achievement, 2014
- Recognized as one of Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business, 2012
- Identified as one of Harper's Bazaar's 10 Game Changers, 2012
- Included in Vanity Fair's Next Establishment feature, 2012
- Granted the Fashinvest Award, 2012
- Listed among Drapers' Fashion's 100 Most Influential, 2006