Tom Ford is arguably one of the most adaptable yet surprising designers of our time. His professional decisions within the industry have always left an after shock to those who follow him whether it be from his days at Gucci to directing thriller movies. His career in fashion began while he interned for the timeless Chloé spending a year in Paris, but he was mearly a PR intern. Nonetheless his passion grew for the industry.
Finally, in 1990, after jumping from Cathy Hardwick to Perry Ellis, Ford accepted the position of chief designer of womens ready to wear for Gucci. When we hear the brand Gucci now a days so many iconic pieces come to mind, and this is largely due to the work of Ford. He entered the company as it was experiencing extreme financial strain and truly lost its brand image. By 1994 he had moved from chief designer of just womens wear, to creative director of the entire brand, much to Maurizio Gucci as they had creative differences. Ford is credited for bringing the brand back and reviving the love for this Italian luxury retailer. But of course, not without raising eyebrows along the way. "Between 1995 and 1996, sales at Gucci increased by 90%. At one point, Ford was the largest individual share holder of Gucci stock and options. By 1999, the house, which had been almost bankrupt when Ford joined, was valued at more than $4 billion" (Amed, Imran). Fords shows and campaigns were known for being highly erotic leaving little to the imagination and turning the sex appeal all the way up. Ford also played with gender and sex role ideals often putting females for the first time in power suits worn only by men in the past. During Fords time with Gucci, the powerhouse brand also acquired Yves Saint Laurent and Ford subsequently became the creative director of this brand as well. Upon his departure from both companies, they had to hire four new people to take place of just his position.
After 15 years with Gucci, Ford left the once bankrupt company with over a ten billion dollar net worth and moved on to the creation of his own company, Tom Ford. His vision with his own company did not stray too far from the pieces that were put put during his time with Gucci. He remains controversial for his use of nudeness in his campaigns and erotic pieces, in 2014 he was criticized for the release of a penis pendant necklace in the shape of a crucifix. His ability to push the envelope sexually for over thirty years is truly remarkable. The world has changed ten fold since the 90s yet with the change of society he still finds areas in which he can challenge the standards and representation of sexuality.
Ford has recently moved into the film industry as a way to express his image through a new art medium. His two films A Single Man and Nocturnal Animals have received plenty of praise and won countless awards in the industry. Fords passion for his work is clear seeing as his work in clothing and film both flourish without him compromising his image along the way.
Sources:
Amed, Imran (September 26, 2013)."The Business of Being Tom Ford, Part I".The Business of Fashion. RetrievedApril 7,2016.
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