Less than a year after succeeding founder Tom Ford as the creative director of Tom Ford's brand, Peter Hawkings is stepping down from the company. The luxury house's Spring 2025 collection will be presented in the Milan showroom in September with a successor being announced in the near future the company declares in a statement.
Hawkings took over the label at the beginning of 2023 after the company was sold to Estée Lauder in a $2.8 billion deal. As part of its terms, the Ermenegildo Zegna Group will maintain a 20-year license agreement to produce the imprint's fashion line while focusing on its main goal of expanding Tom Ford's womenswear sales.
"I would like to express my gratitude to Peter for his exceptional contributions to Tom Ford from the very beginning," says Guillaume Jesel, president and CEO of Tom Ford and luxury business development at The Estée Lauder Companies. "I want to thank Peter for his collaboration since Tom Ford Fashion became part of the Ermenegildo Zegna Group. Along with his team, Peter has contributed to this important initial phase of development. I wish him all the best in his next chapter," adds Lelio Gavazza, CEO of Tom Ford Fashion.
Hawkings has a longstanding history with the brand working alongside Ford for over 25 years, first serving as a menswear design assistant at Gucci in 1998. He eventually went on to join him in the launch of Tom Ford eight years later where he oversaw the design and production of menswear, eyewear, bags, shoes and jewelry before becoming senior vice president of its men's offerings.
With such history, it was quite natural for Hawkings to assume the position of creative director. Ford described the creative as "an incredibly talented leader with tremendous industry experience," which showed through his collections that effortlessly elevated the brand's identity and vision. His successor definitely has big shoes to fill.
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