Tom Ford has appointed French designer Haider Ackermann as its new Creative Director. His first collection will debut at Paris Fashion Week in March 2025.
In his new role, Ackermann will assume the creative leadership across all Tom Ford fashion categories, including menswear, womenswear, accessories and eyewear, while guiding the creative vision for the overall brand.
“I have long been a great fan of Ackermann’s work. I find both his womenswear and menswear equally compelling. He is an incredible colourist, his tailoring is sharp, and above all he is modern,” said Tom Ford, the luxury brand’s eponymous founder.
“We share many of the same historical references, and I could not be more excited to see what he does with the brand. I suspect that I will be the first on my feet to applaud after his show in March.”
A French national born in Colombia, Ackermann’s upbringing spanned Ethiopia, Chad, Algeria, The Netherlands, and Belgium, where he studied fashion at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp.
Since establishing his namesake label in 2001, the designer has accrued a loyal A-list fanbase, consisting of the likes of Timothée Chalamet, Tilda Swinton, Kylie Jenner and Cate Blanchett.
Ackermann will be based in Paris, reporting to Guillaume Jesel, President and CEO of Tom Ford and Luxury Business Development at The Estée Lauder Companies, and Lelio Gavazza, CEO of Tom Ford Fashion at Ermenegildo Zegna Group.
“It is with tremendous pride that I will seek to honour the legacy of Tom Ford, a man I have long admired and have the utmost respect for,” said Ackermann. “I am much looking forward to what lies ahead.”
Tom Ford is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies, with the fashion business licensed to the Ermenegildo Zegna Group and the eyewear business licensed to Marcolin SpA.
The news comes after Peter Hawkings, who had been the Creative Director at Tom Ford since April 2023, stepped down from the role in July.
Peter Hawkings took over from Tom Ford himself when he stepped down last year. During his tenure, Hawkings led design for the brand’s fashion segment and fashion shows.