The world knows Thomas Carlyle Ford as Tom Ford, the owner of the “Tom Ford” level. Ford had earned his fame as creative director of the famous fashion brand Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. He has also directed an Oscar nominated film “A Single Man”, starred by Hollywood actress Julianne Moore and Colin Firth.
Early Life
Born in August 27, 1961 to Thomas David Ford and Shirley Burton in Austin, Texas, Tom Ford spent the early years of his life in Houston and San Macros. He was 11 when the family moved in Santa Fe. He started schooling in St. Michael’s High School and later Santa Fe Preparatory school. He was graduated from the later in 1979.
Though he was enrolled in Bard College at Simon’s Rock, he soon dropped out and moved in New York to take admission in New York University as a student of art-history. However, he finished his education with studying interior architecture from ‘Parsons The New School for Design’.
Background of Family
Both Thomas Ford Sr. and Shirley Burton were Austin, Texas based realtors. Shirley Burton was also an author and had a great influence on her son.
Early Career
Ford is an architecture graduate and started working as a public-relation intern at Chloe. He kept on calling designer Cathy Hardwick for over a month and finally got the chance of working as design assistant. He was there for two years prior moving to Perry Ellis in 1988. In here also he stayed back for two years before joining Gucci as a chief designer. It turned history then as Ford saved Gucci while it was on the brink of bankruptcy and turned it a powerhouse of world fashion with unique and most innovative ideas. By 1992 Ford became the design director and put himself everywhere, from designing to fashion, branding to advertising, store designing and more. By 1993 there were 11 product lines handled by Ford. However, his contributions stayed hidden under the image of Maurizio Gucci, the owner and the public face of the company and brand.
Promotion As Creative Director
Ford was promoted as creative director of Milan based fashion house Gucci in 1994. In the first year his brought metallic patent boots, satin shirts and Halston-style hipsters. His one of the best marketing ideas clicked at this time when he brought Carine Roitfeld, the French fashion designer and Mario Testino, the photographer, for a new ad campaign. It boosted the sales in 1995-96 made a way for the company to be valued over $4 billion by 1999.
In 1999 Gucci acquired Yves Saint Laurent and Ford remained the creative director for that label also. Though Saint Laurent was primarily displeased with Ford’s innovations but the view changed when Ford brought a large margin profit for them with his creations and modified ad campaigns.
The Tom Ford Label
In 2006 Tom Ford came up with his own brand under his own name, Tom Ford. So far this brand has been hailed and used by many, from the First Lady Michelle Obama to Anne Hathaway, Tom Hanks, Daniel Craig, Johnny Depp and more.
Currently Ford is estimated with a net worth of over $200 million.
Direction
Tom Ford debuted as a film director with the movie “A Single Man”. This movie was highly acclaimed in several film festivals across the globe and also earned a nomination for Academy Award.
Personal Life
Ford has been in a relationship with Richard Buckley since 1986 and married him later. They have a son named Jack or Alexander John Buckley Ford.