Tom Ford takes on the world

Tom Ford is taking his brand global. The designer and his business partner, Domenico De Sole, announced they have signed a number of agreements with franchise and wholesale partners to push the brand into key new cities, starting next spring. This after opening his brand new flagship store in Manhattan and launching his luxury men's line only two months ago.

The men's line will become available through strategic partners such as Lane Crawford Joyce Group in Asia, Mercury in Russia, Harrods in London, the Neiman Marcus Group in the US and Villa Moda and UAE Trading in the Middle East, to name but a few. “We have partnered with the finest companies internationally…giving us the necessary competitive advantage as we expand our men's wear business globally,” De Sole told WWD.

The plan is to open 100 freestanding Tom Ford stores and a score of shop-in-shops within 10 years. First on the agenda is the opening of a directly owned flagship in Milan next year, as well as franchised stores in Moscow , Zurich , Saint Moritz , Hong Kong , Kuwait , Dubai and Qatar . Shop-in-shops are planned for Bergdorf Goodman in the US – as well as select Neiman Marcus stores – Harrods in London , Daslu in Sao Paolo, and Joyce stores in Tokyo and Osaka .

Ford designs his luxury brand – tailored clothing, velvet embroidered slippers – in London , where directly operated stores will open next year, after the Milan opening. A London flagship is planned for 2009.

Ford has particularly big plans for the Far East . Together with partner Lane Crawford Joyce Group, Ford plans to open at least 87 franchised Tom Ford stores over the next 10 years, in countries that include Japan , China , Hong Kong , Taiwan , Singapore , Indonesia , Malaysia and Australia . According to Ford, for a business to be successful in the Far East requires more stores. “The way people shop in Beijing , for example, is different because they have shopping hubs that are in towers mixed with hotels and offices that are like mini cities, so you need more stores.”

For the time being, Ford has no plans to introduce women's wear, claiming he is still too busy with the men's line, with which he feels he is making a “new statement”.

www.tomford.com
11 June 2007

Tom Ford store opens to mixed reviews

Tom Ford's store launch in New York received mixed reviews when it opened earlier this month. The slick concept boutique launched by the former Gucci designer received lackluster reviews in the New York press for its Savile Row pretensions and inflated prices. Tomford.com states to enter the flagship store is to step inside an environment of deeply masculine luxury. This is no mean feat, as the cheapest thing on sale is a pair of hand-woven socks at $75. A pair of pyjamas is $1,900; dressing gowns, in a range of 17th-century prints, start at $3,900.

But where else would the man who has everything buy an umbrella or walking stick tipped in 18-carat gold? When promoting his venture, Ford remarked that one of his fur ski coats was 'perfect for a weekend in Gstaad or St Moritz, and those are the kinds of weekends our customers have'. The imagined customer is, of course, Tom Ford: 'I am my own muse,' he explained in a recent interview.

The decor of this new shop is a similar to his Georgian house in Mayfair, London, writes the Observer. It boasts perforated suede walls, Makasar ebony floors, a bronze desk draped in gold alligator skins, a sculpture by the surrealist artist Hans Arp and a slashed canvas by Lucio Fontana, and beaver-fur rugs. Suits are displayed in glass vitrines, as if they were works of art. The New York Times compared the gloomy interior, with its black curtains and black lacquered 1920s French urns, to an up-market crematorium. Additional stores are planned for London, Tokyo, Milan, Hong Kong and Los Angeles.

Last week Ford admitted to having been hurt by the criticism of his flagship store: 'We are running a business that's not for everyone, and I'm not trying to be an asshole, but some people can't afford it,' he said magnanimously, 'and maybe there is a sort of resentment about that.' Tom Ford is located at 845 Madison Avenue, New York. For more information go to www.tomford.com.

29 May 2007

Tom Ford launches website

Tom Ford launched his new website yesterday. The site will offer the growing selection of products designed by Ford, from his Black Orchid fragrance produced by Estee Lauder to the eyewear line produced by the Marcolin Group. Later on, his menwear line, produced by Ermenegildo Zegna, will also be available on the site as well as in his first store on Madison Avenue, which is slated to open in April. The Tom Ford Beauty range, which will be sold in stores from November, will also become available online. Furthermore, the site presents Ford's biography and philosophy in the slick, sensual manner to which we have grown accustomed.

“I think it is important to always address and use the primary media of one's time and we all have to face the fact that there is no more powerful media than the internet,” he told WWD. “It is how most of us communicate, get our news, entertain ourselves, and increasingly shop.”

www.tomford.com
25 October 2006

Tom Ford to open Milan showroom

Tom Ford is set to open a Milan showroom for its luxury men's label in January 2007. The showroom is located in Via Borgonuovo, not far from Giorgio Armani's headquarters. The men's label will launch later this year. The Milan showroom will serve as the company's main worldwide showroom. “Milan is one of my European homes and I am very pleased to once again have a base here,” Ford said in a statement.

The new collection will launch in Ford's first store on Madison Avenue in November, and select distribution will kick off in 2007. Other directly operated stores in London, Milan, Tokyo and Los Angeles will open in the next three to four years. Commenting on the Milan showroom Ford's business partner, chairman Domenico De Sole said: “Maintaining our operational base close to the production facilities is central to business.”

Tom Ford to chair Fashion Fringe

Colin McDowell's Fashion Fringe, the London competition which sees its winner receive £100,000 start up cash to fund, manufacture and set up a fashion label, has signed Tom Ford to be its chairman. Ford, who replaces Burberry's Rose-Marie Bravo, will chair the annual competition for the next two years.

Fashion Fringe is the leading UK fashion competition that seeks to find new talent and nurture the winner throughout the early stages of his or her career. The winner further gets a slot to show during London Fashion Week. Applications for the third Fashion Fringe must be received by April 28.

www.fashionfringe.co.uk
9 April 2006

Possible Ford deal with Zegna

Tom Ford is expected to announce as early as today that he has signed a manufacturing deal for his signature men's wear collection with Ermenegildo Zegna, reports Women's Wear Daily. The industry has speculated about who Ford would turn to in developing his ready-to-wear luxury men's collection every since he announced his decision last fall. According to WWD, men's wear house Zegna was the logical choice. Domenico De Sole, Ford's business partner, is a member of Zegna's board. Furthermore, Zegna produced the Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent men's collections when Ford was creative director at those houses.

Further to these personal connections, Zegna has the right resources to produce Ford's collection, say sources. The company has factories in Italy and Switzerland that are capable of producing both designer suits in large quantities and more selective bespoke items. In 2005, the house generated sales of €713 million.

The return of Tom Ford

Style maker Tom Ford, who's new beauty range for L'Oreal is due in-stores this November, is to design a new menswear range under his own name. The ex Gucci designer has confirmed a new collection of sharp tailoring, dress shirts, footwear and leather goods for men that will be available for winter 2006. The range, which has been described as a mix between Savile Row and Italian luxury, will be something like Armani and Ralph Lauren, albeit more sexy and edgy. A store is expected to open in London, in addition to boutiques in New York, Tokyo and Los Angeles.

14 October 2005

Tom Ford for Estee Lauder

Tom Ford's collaboration with Estee Lauder is reportedly a makeup and perfume line-up to be called Amber Nude. While neither Ford nor Lauder executives would comment on the new lines to WWD, Ford also is said to be tweaking Lauder's iconic Youth Dew fragrance into a scent called Youth Dew Amber Nude, which will be accompanied by a colour cosmetics collection under the same moniker. The compacts for that collection are said to be Ford's modern renditions of classic Lauder compacts, rendered in rich gold tones.

Both the cosmetics and the fragrance are expected to be on counter by early December in America , with a European debut to follow in early 2006. Ford and his former Gucci partner, Domenico De Sole, formed their own, self-financed company and signed a beauty deal with Lauder in April. Ford, who is the first designer to be allied with the 58-year-old Lauder brand, is president and chief executive officer of the new venture; De Sole is chairman. Sources estimated the duo could earn between $10 million and $20 million over the next five years.

4 August 2005

Tom Ford Signs With Estee Lauder

It was only a matter of time before Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole would make a re-appearance as a world-leading fashion duo. They drove the Gucci Group to new heights and now have Chanel and Hermès on their acquisition wishlist. The duo confirmed an exclusive report in WWD Tuesday that they were returning with a new company that will be totally self-financed. As reported, one of the first deals signed under the new Tom Ford brand is an agreement with the Estee Lauder Cos. to launch a Tom Ford for Estee Lauder collection and eventually a stand-alone Tom Ford beauty brand. While none of the parties involved would discuss terms of the Lauder deal, industry sources speculated that Ford could be paid a minimum of $10 million to $20 million over the next five years.

The designer also on Tuesday signed an agreement with Marcolin for a Tom Ford eyewear line. Ford, who will be president and chief executive officer of the new company, hinted Tuesday that future product categories could include home goods and a men's apparel line. He's also continuing with his plans to enter the film business and said he has "a few" scripts in development.

De Sole, who will be chairman of the new venture, said the deals are the first steps in the founding of a new luxury conglomerate.
"We're back, and these are the first steps in a bigger plan," said De Sole. "We'll be doing very specialized products [and are] thinking through more licenses and the possibility of directly owned stand-alone stores. The brand is going to be very high-end; and all of the products will be positioned at the level of Chanel and Hermès. We want to create the first, true luxury brand of this century. And, as always, we're doing our own thing, developing our own business model. The process started last summer, and we've been looking at this brand from every angle and trying to see what fits and what doesn't. We're going to make this very big, but we're going to build it slowly and at a deliberate pace.

"There is no outside capital at all in this [Tom Ford] venture, and we're totally in control," added De Sole. "We really wanted to do something for ourselves." Ford, meanwhile, admitted that a year away from fashion, following the duo's dramatic departure from Gucci Group, has given him a new perspective on the industry. When asked what he thinks is needed to cure the chaotic fragrance market, Ford replied: "Every forum right now needs quality. There's so much flash right now, so many people endorsing things. Things are reaching sort of a hollow peak. Quality of product is number one. If I were designing ready-to-wear right now, that's what it would be about - real, true value. And I don't mean value for the price. I mean value in terms of quality. That's what's most important, and it's what's missing in every area."

www.wwd.com
14 april 2005

Ford's next step

Rumours have been circling that Tom Ford is to join Estee Lauder. The former creative director for Gucci is expected to announce the results of his discussions with the cosmetics giant withing the next two weeks. Ford, who has dappled in acting, directing and car design - to name just a few activities after leaving Gucci - was thought to become creative director for Estee Lauder. However, the latest news has it that he is to enter into a joint venture with the company, which already has such dealings with Donald Trump and Sean Combs.

When confronted with the rumours last Thursday, Ford said that he had "not as of yet signed any deals at this time." Not that all this means the end of his career in film. His forthcoming project might possibly star his one time muse, Carine Roitfield, in a cameo role, reports Vogue.com.

5 April 2005

Ford receives award

Ex-Gucci creative designer Tom Ford is to be awarded the Andre Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is to be given to him by Andre Leon Talley, the editor-at-large for US Vogue, himself. The Savannah College of Art and Design is honouring Ford on 20 May. The Georgia college is known for its annual, highly publicized fashion show. It previously awarded Diane von Furstenburg with an honorary degree and Zac Posen with the Andre Leon Talley New Look Award. WWD has revealed that the college plans on providing live webcast of the show in order to allow Ford's fans a glimpse of the event.

29 March 2005

Lenny and Tom

Ultra cool rocker Lenny Kravitz and ultra chic designer/actor/director/celebrity Tom Ford have reputedly joined forces to create a new line of clothing in Kravitz's name. In doing so, Kravitz is joining the increasing line of musicians to have launched their own fashion labels, such as Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, Damon Dash and P.Diddy. Furthermore, if the information is correct, this is another indication that Ford is not ready to relinquish his role in fashion entirely.

An insider told reporters that Lenny was to sell some of the clothes that he had built up over the years and would also design a few of his own creations. The latter would be sold through up market London stores like Harvey Nichols.

14 December 2004

Ford fraternising with enemy

It appears that Tom Ford has been meeting with LVMH boss Bernard Arnault for a few lunches. Ford told Fortune magazine that the two have become "fairly friendly" since he left Gucci.

Ford, who left the world of high fashion to try his hand at a career in film earlier this year, is keeping the fashion world guessing as to the nature of his meetings with Arnault. It is no secret that the latter is the archrival of Ford's former boss, Serge Weinberg. Recently, Ford admitted that he had revised his initial thoughts of never returning to fashion. Could he possibly be planning a big comeback? Watch this space.

11 November 2004

Ford turns author

Former Gucci designer, Tom Ford, has turned his talents to writing. He has penned the memoirs of his time designing for Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. The finished product was presented at a party last week in Dallas. Ford's book is big and bold, like the man himself. He admitted that writing "Tom Ford" has helped him work through his time at Gucci, where he spent 14 years of his life.

Ford will be directing films, and has his own film production office in Los Angeles. However, having spent six months away from the fashion world, he has revised his earlier decision about designing clothes. He no longer rules out the possibility of returning to a career in fashion.

2 November 2004

Post-Gucci depression

Tom Ford, the man who turned the flailing luxury goods company around in the nineties, has admitted to depression following his departure from Gucci. In an interview with Jeanne Becker, fashion journalist for the Canadian magazine FQ, he revealed that he misses his ability to leave his mark on popular culture.

Furthermore he expressed his dismay at the bitchiness of the fashion world, which he thought he had left behind. It appears that fashion journalist Suzy Menkes wrote some unkind words about the former designer following a memorial service for Helmut Newton, which Ford had attended. Ford admitted that fighting his depression was an ongoing battle, but that he was going to focus on his acting career in Los Angeles.

www.fashionwiredaily.com
12 October 2004

Ford The Next Film Star?

With Milan fashion week in full swing, and Gucci going still going strong sans its former creative director, Tom Ford, all eyes on the man who once revolutionised the fashion industry.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Ford is the latest fashionista to pursue an acting career. He has already been cast in his first film, The Great New Wonderful, alongside Maggie Gyllenhaal. Let's see if his savvy confidence is as alluring on-screen as it was on the runway.

2 October 2004

Ford To Fashion Up Auction House

Tom Ford may still aspire to a life in Hollywood but he's bound not to tie himself down to just one idea. The now ex-creative director of Gucci and YSL Rive Gauche recently attended his first meeting as a member of the advisory board of Sotheby's in Paris - the rival auction house to Christie's which is owned by Ford's former boss, Francois Pinault.

"The advisory board consults to management on a broad variety of strategic matters, including business and market opportunities, as well as our international operations," a spokesman told WWD. "Tom Ford is one of the great innovators and taste makers of our era, and we are delighted we are able to draw on his vision and unique creativity."

7 May 2004