Thome Brown Shows Promise as New CFDA Chair
As a fast-paced and constantly evolving industry, fashion capitalizes on change. This change applies not only to fashion’s seasons and trends, but also to its leadership. Taking effect on January 1, 2023, Thom Browne will act as the new chairman for the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) for a two-year term. The CFDA has honored Browne’s creativity in the past through awarding him as Menswear Designer of the Year three times, and now they will honor his leadership ability with this new position.
Thom Browne created his own label in 2003, only shortly before joining the CFDA and winning his first CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year award. Known for unconventionally cropped suits and conceptual runway shows, the New York designer provides a unique perspective to American fashion. Browne’s shrunken suit silhouettes can be seen in both his menswear and womenswear collections, coming a long way from the brand’s origin which started from experimentally shrinking vintage suits in his dryer. In an interview with Vogue, Browne voiced that he wants “the men’s collection to be as feminine as possible and the women’s collection to be as masculine as possible,” because he loves the concept of colliding interconnected worlds. Browne has made it a long way since founding his brand, having collaborated with brands such as Brooks Brothers, Moncler Gamme Bleu, and Barney’s. Browne has even designed a jacket for first lady Michele Obama to wear at her husband’s second inauguration.
This past fashion week, Browne featured kilts, opera coats, peekaboo underwear, and much more funky fashion in his Spring Summer 2023 Ready-to-Wear collection that was inspired by “an American prom mixed with Cinderella mixed with the Paris Opera.”
In a recent Vogue interview, Browne said “It is the mission of the CFDA to support and encourage new voices and new designers to parlay their creativity into a unique and singular level of success. As designers, it is our responsibility to provoke...to educate... to entertain...to make laugh and to make cry...and, most importantly, to make beautiful clothes and to succeed in nurturing the next generation of American design.”
Browne has yet to publicly articulate specific goals for the council, but his unanimous election speaks to the council’s confidence in him. He certainly has large shoes to fill as the new chairman as the successor to Tom Ford who served a three-year term. Ford impacted the CFDA through his contributions in advocating for and creating DEI programs within the fashion industry, as well as providing relief during the pandemic to smaller scale fashion brands during the first two years of the pandemic.
In such an industry where change is constant, strong leadership within creative minds is reassuring. Browne continues to prove his capability as a designer, and shows promising signs that he is well- suited for the role of CFDA Chairman.
Image source: Hypebeast
