Tom Ford (62) is retiring – at least in his position as creative director of the fashion brand named after him, which was sold to Estée Lauder in November 2022. The US designer presented his last line, the Fall/Winter 2023 collection, on his website last week. Now the company is also announcing a successor to Ford.
Peter Hawkings, who has worked closely with Ford for nearly 25 years, will replace the designer as creative director. He began his career at Gucci in 1998 – under Tom Ford. He has worked at the Tom Ford brand since 2006 and most recently held the role of Senior Vice President of Menswear. Guillaume Jesel replaces Ford co-founder Domenico de Sole (79) as CEO and President.
The company also announced that Estée Lauder will continue to manage the cosmetics and perfumes business, while Italian fashion group Ermenegildo Zegna will be responsible for all menswear, womenswear, accessories and underwear.
Tom Ford founded his Tom Ford International brand in 2005, together with Domenico de Sole. The two left their previous employer Gucci in 2004. Ford worked there from 1990 to 2004 as a designer, design and creative director and from 2000 to 2004 as a women’s ready-to-wear designer at Yves Saint Laurent.
Both Tom Ford and Domenico de Sole will remain with the company as consultants until the end of the 2023 calendar year.