Tom Ford

Thomas Carlyle “Tom” Ford (born August 27, 1961) is an American fashion designer and film director. He gained international fame for his turnaround of Gucci and the creation of the Tom Ford label before directing the Oscar-nominated film A Single Man.Between 1995 and 1996, sales at Gucci increased by 90%.  By 1999, the house, which had been almost bankrupt when Ford joined, was valued at about $4.3 billion. When Ford left in 2004, Gucci Group was valued at $10 billion. When Gucci acquired the house of Yves Saint Laurent (YSL), Ford was named the creative director of that label as well, displacing Saint Laurent himself as designer of the company’s ready-to-wear line.  Ford nonetheless won numerous Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards.  In April 2004, Ford parted ways with the Gucci group. After leaving Gucci, Ford launched a line of menswear, beauty, eyewear, and accessories in 2006.