Thom Browne

Thom Browne (born 1965) is an American fashion designer. He is the founder and head of design for Thom Browne, a New York City-based menswear and womenswear brand. Browne debuted his womenswear collection in 2014.^[1][2]

Early life and education[]

Browne was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1965,^[3] and grew up there, where he graduated from William Allen High School. He loved fashion and sports from a young age. Browne then attended the University of Notre Dame, living in Alumni Hall. He received a degree in economics and was a member of the swim team at the university.

Career[]

Following an attempt at acting in Los Angeles, Browne moved to New York City in 1997 for a job as a salesman in Giorgio Armani’s showroom. Browne was picked up by Club Monaco, a brand of the Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, to lead its creative development team. He worked with the American fashion designer Ralph Lauren. Browne spent several years at Club Monaco leading its design department before launching his own label.

Michelle Obama (center) at the second swearing in of Barack Obama as U.S. President. She wore a Browne silk jacquard coat and dress in a navy checked pattern that, according to Eric Wilson in The New York Times, Browne said was based on "a men’s necktie fabric".^[4]

Thom Browne Sunglasses from his eyewear collection.

Collaborations[]

On September 8, 2006, Brooks Brothers announced its partnership with Browne as part of a guest designer program to create and distribute a 50-piece men's and women’s high-end collection, Black Fleece by Brooks Brothers.^[1] Claudio Del Vecchio, Chairman and CEO of Brooks Brothers, said "Thom Browne's brilliant eye, his ability to foreshadow the market and offer a special look will bring a new dimension to Brooks Brothers."^{[citation needed]}

The line appeared exclusively in 30 Brooks Brothers stores worldwide beginning in September 2007. In July 2008, Thom Browne and Brooks Brothers announced their decision to continue their partnership in the Black Fleece collection for another three years. The line proved so successful, Brooks Brothers opened a standalone Black Fleece store located in New York City's West Village.^{[citation needed]}

In 2008, Browne teamed up with the Italian sportswear company and down apparel specialist Moncler to design their men's top line Moncler Gamme Bleu.^[1][5] The men's collection was launched for winter 2009 after the women's collection Moncler Gamme Rouge - designed by Alessandra Facchinetti from 2006 to 2008^[6] and thereafter by Giambattista Valli^[7] - had proven very successful. Browne's first collection for Moncler was presented in January 2009 and has since been shown at Milan Fashion Week. As with his signature collection that has been presented in a circus setting, an antiquated open plan office or on a tennis court inspired runway, Browne showed his Moncler collections on an artificial ski slope (winter 2009),^[8] at the Milanese public indoor swimming pool Piscina Cozzi (summer 2010),^[9] and at a military-style barrack mockup (winter 2010).^[10][11]

On September 8, 2020, Thom Browne made a scarf^[12] for Joe Biden's "Believe in Better" fashion collection, which included collaborations from 18 other fashion designers around the country as part of the Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign.^[13] His scarf along with the rest of the collection is made in unionized factories and available for general release. All purchases serve as a donation to Biden's campaign.

Sale[]

In August 2018, Ermenegildo Zegna announced that they purchased 85% of the brand at a half-billion dollar valuation.^[14] This was seen as a bid by the century-old Italian behemoth to court a younger demographic and reach new markets.^[15] Thom Browne is the only other shareholder, with 15% of the brand, and will continue as the brand’s chief creative officer.^[15] Rodrigo Bazan will remain the chief executive officer of Thom Browne.^[15]

Awards and honors[]

• CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year Award, 2016, 2013 and 2006
• GQ Designer of the Year, 2008
• Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, 2012^[16]

Personal life[]

Browne lives with Andrew Bolton,^[17] who is curator at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan.^[18]

See also[]

• LGBT culture in New York City
• List of LGBT people from New York City

References[]