Peter Hawkings steps into the spotlight following the much talked about restructuring of Tom Ford the brand. The designer was behind the scenes for 25 years working as Mr Ford’s right hand since the designers rise to fame in Gucci.
“In Peter Hawkings the brand has found the perfect Creative Director. Peter began working with me 25 years ago as a menswear design assistant at Gucci and rapidly worked his way up to become the senior men’s designer at the company when he left to join me at the TOM FORD brand. Since the creation of TOM FORD menswear, Peter has been instrumental in the success of the brand. He is an incredibly talented leader with tremendous industry experience, and his appointment gives me confidence that my commitment to creating fashion products with the highest level of design and quality will continue,” shared Mr Tom Ford talking to the press.
Together, Tom Ford and Peter Hawkings have been in the fashion industry for almost to twenty-five years, with Peter Hawkings most recently holding the position of Senior Vice President of TOM FORD Menswear. As part of his promotion to the position of Creative Director, Peter will take over the tasks that formerly belonged to Tom Ford in the post of Creative Director of Fashion. These responsibilities include overseeing the womenswear, menswear, and accessory categories. Peter will also assume the role of lead designer for the fashion section and fashion shows.
PETER HAWKINGS AT GUCCI
Peter started his career in 1998 at Italian fashion house Gucci, which was then under the helm of Mr Tom Ford. He collaborated closely with Ford on the creation of the menswear collections that were to this day extremely successful for Gucci. In the past years Gucci itself has reflected multiple times on its archival pieces from the Tom Ford era Gucci collections. Peter departed Gucci in 2006 to join Tom Ford in the launch of his eponymous brand, where he was tasked with directing the design and production of all categories of TOM FORD menswear, including tailoring, sportswear, leather goods, and accessories. During his time at TOM FORD, Peter was responsible for all menswear categories, including tailoring, sportswear, leather goods, and accessories.
WORKING WITH THE NEW TOM FORD CEO
Peter will be responsible for sustaining the vision of the TOM FORD brand, guaranteeing consistency of creative direction and decisions across all fashion categories, and ushering in the next chapter of the TOM FORD brand’s story. Hawkings will report directly to Guillaume Jesel the CEO of Tom Ford Fashion.
“Peter is one of the world’s most accomplished menswear designers. His design experience working under Tom Ford is unparalleled and his commitment to quality is relentless,” added Guillaume. “There is no one more perfectly suited than Peter to carry the founder’s legendary creative vision into the future.”
In his new role as executive leader for the TOM FORD brand, Guillaume Jesel brings with him nearly a decade of experience in the successful leadership of the TOM FORD BEAUTY brand. Guillaume will have authority across all business verticals as President and CEO of TOM FORD, and he will be responsible for developing a comprehensive luxury strategy for the company. The ELC executive executives Jane Hertzmark Hudis, Executive Group President, and Tracey T. Travis, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will be Guillaume’s direct reports.
Both Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole will continue to act in their current capacities as brand consultants until the calendar year 2023 comes to a close. “I could not be happier with the acquisition of the TOM FORD brand by The Estée Lauder Companies. The team there has been a great partner and Guillaume is an exceptional leader, with not only a strong business understanding of beauty, but a great understanding of fashion as well,” shared Tom Ford in the official press release.
WHO OWNS TOM FORD THE BRAND?
The Estée Lauder Companies (“ELC”) recently completed a transformational deal that resulted in the firm becoming the sole owner of the TOM FORD brand as well as all of its intellectual property. This was accomplished through the acquisition of the TOM FORD brand. The stewardship of the brand by ELC and the new leaders that were announced today, in addition to its licenses with the Zegna Group for fashion and accessories, and the Marcolin Group for eyewear, ensures continuity and paves the way for the further development of the TOM FORD brand as one of the preeminent global luxury brands of the twenty-first century. The Zegna Group purchased the TOM FORD fashion business operations (referred to as “TOM FORD FASHION”) that were necessary for it to fulfil its commitments as a licensee of ELC.
“I am also pleased that the Zegna Group will continue to manufacture and distribute TOM FORD fashion and accessories, and operate retail for TOM FORD FASHION. I have worked closely with Zegna for more than 30 years, first at Gucci, then at Yves Saint Laurent. When contemplating the creation of the TOM FORD brand there was simply no other partner that we would have turned to, to produce high quality fashion products and a flawless retail experience. Marcolin has been an excellent partner in producing and distributing TF eyewear since the inception of the brand and I have enjoyed close collaboration with Maurizio Marcolin and his talented team for many years now. These companies, under the brand stewardship of The Estée Lauder Companies, provide me with confidence that the TOM FORD brand will continue to be something that I will be proud of for many years to come,” concluded Mr Tom Ford.
And after this farewell to the fashion and beauty business what is next for Mr Tom Ford himself? Find out in our recently posted article.
