The king of cool!

Before Tom Ford became Tom Ford, he was a Texas-born architecture student who switched his attention to fashion and eventually landed at Gucci in Milan in 1990. By 1994, he was the house’s Creative Director.

And then? Gucci got sexy.

Ford replaced the house’s struggling image with unapologetic glamour: velvet, satin, sharp tailoring, provocative advertising and clothes that practically whispered sex. His Gucci transformed the brand commercially, with sales rising from $230 million to almost $3 billion during his tenure.

When Gucci Group acquired Yves Saint Laurent, Ford was appointed Creative Director of YSL in 2000, alongside his Gucci role.

After leaving Gucci Group in 2004, Ford launched his namesake label in 2005 with Domenico De Sole. He built a luxury universe spanning fashion, eyewear and beauty—and made the designer himself part of the brand.

In 2023, Estée Lauder acquired TOM FORD for $2.8 billion, while Zegna became the fashion licensee.

Ford’s real contribution? He understood that fashion isn’t simply about clothes. It’s about desire, fantasy, image and selling a lifestyle. He helped establish the modern designer as creative director, businessman and cultural brand all at once.

And honestly? The man understood branding before branding became everybody’s favourite buzzword.