Fashion designer, movie director/producer TOM FORD has accepted the role of Chairman of the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) it was announced on Tuesday (March 19, 2019). News broke that the Austin, Texas, born designer will take the mantle from outgoing CFDA Chairman, designer Diane von Furstenberg, officially starting in January. Von Furstenberg, who has held the position for the past 13 years, in a statement said; “I am so excited that Tom Ford has agreed to become the Chairperson and lead the CFDA. American Fashion could not wish for a better visionary to further grow its impact on the global landscape. Tom is a role model for all of us, and we are very lucky to have him as the next Chairman of the CFDA.”

ROOTS

Tom Ford is truly a seasoned industry professional who has worked and lived in all of the global fashion capitals of the world. From his beginnings, as a student at New York University and Parson’s School of Design, to becoming one of the world’s most recognized names in fashion, Ford has always displayed a truly global approach to fashion but remained true to his American roots, as exhibited in his latest Fall,Winter 2019 collection, shown recently during New York Fashion Week. He skyrocketed to fame and fortune when he became the Design head at Gucci in 1990. He then took his talents to the prestigious Parisian House of Yves Saint Laurent. Ford recalled that when he was at YSL, it was the same time when the late Karl Lagerfeld was at Chanel, and all of the leading Paris fashion houses were run by designers who were not Parisian.

FILMMAKER & MULTI-AWARD WINNER

Ford, who launched his own luxury brand in 2006 is also an accomplished film director and producer. His company `Fade to Black’ first film was “A Single Man” featuring Julianna Moore, Colin Firth, and Matthew Goode. His next film “Nocturnal Animals” featuring Amy Adams, Armie Hammer, and Jake Gyllenhaal recently premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Tom Ford comes to the CFDA with some familiarity with the organization. He has been the recipient of seven CFDA Awards over the years, he won the Menswear Designer of the Year in 2005 and 2008; Womenswear Designer of the Year in 2001; Accessory Designer of the Year in 2002; Board of Directors Tribute in 2004; International Designer of the Year in 1995 and the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.

ACCORDING TO TOM

Tom enters into this key position at a time when the fashion industry is experiencing some major changes, a whole new

breed of creative designers are trying to get attention to the global and international arenas, their creativity is being crafted by the internet and identity politics. There is also the dramatic reinvention of the Calvin Klein brand, Needless to say, Tom has his work cut out for him. When asked why he accepted the role of Chairman of the CFDA, Tom Ford told Vogue Magazine; “A sense of duty! I have been in this industry for 35 years. I started in New York and Seventh Avenue informed my business sense, it contributed in part to my success. Even though I was in Europe for 30 years, I always felt very linked to this country as a designer. I’ve always taken a very American approach. At the same time….the thing that I bring to the CFDA, and which Diane, also has, is that I think of myself as an international designer. I think from a global perspective. I’ve been shocked by how inward-looking we’ve become. Not the CFDA, but as a country, under the current administration – building a wall, quite literally, to isolate ourselves.”

GIVING BACK

Ford said that he is looking forward to furthering the role of American fashion and it’s designers. “The CFDA has been good to me. I have that American thing of giving back. You don’t tend to hear that in Europe, maybe a little in London, but when you get to a certain age and a certain experience in the industry, giving back is important…It’s incredible what Diane gives everyone; there’s visibility to what she does in addition to the real true work. Diane will be a hard act to follow…she pushes to get things done, which you have to do. She’s hard to say no to, but then (he laughs) I have that too.” Tom continued; “As the Chairman I look forward to continuing the impeccable work Diane has done over the last 13 years. Diane is a true force and her contribution to the CFDA and to American fashion is immeasurable. We all owe her a great deal.”

THE CFDA

CFDA is a non-profit trade organization, founded in 1962, counts over 500 womenswear, menswear and accessories designers as members and hosts an annual award program which is considered the top fashion awards event in the US. This year’s ceremony takes place on June 3.