Thom Browne
Encyclopedia
Thom Browne is an American
fashion designer. He is the founder and head of design for Thom Browne, a New York City
-based menswear brand. Browne was named the Council of Fashion Designers of America
(CFDA) Menswear Designer of the Year in March 2006 and named the GQ Designer of the Year in November 2008.
, where he graduated from William Allen High School
. He then attended the University of Missouri and a transfer to University of Notre Dame
, where he received a degree in economics. He was also a member of the swim team. 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
in this capacity. Browne spent several years at Club Monaco leading its design department before launching his own label.
A Thom Browne suit is distinctive in structure and fit. The suits are composed of flat front pants with exposed ankles and a jacket that concludes mid-wrist and doesn't cover the backside. They almost always have either two or three buttons, narrow lapels, side vents, and trouser without belt loops. The designer is best known for wearing suits in a range of charcoal-grey colors, always paired with a tie cut from the same fabric, a silver tie clip, a white button down shirt, and black leather dress shoes. Since its debut in 2001, the Thom Browne collection has extended into a more complete menswear line with dress shirts, sweaters, ties, underwear, and accessories. Thom Browne can be purchased at retailers around the world and at the flagship store on Hudson Street
in TriBeCa
.
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 and women’s high-end collection, called Black Fleece by Brooks Brothers. Claudio Del Vecchio, Chairman and CEO of Brooks Brothers, felt that "Thom Browne's brilliant eye, his ability to foreshadow the market and offer a special look will bring a new dimension to Brooks Brothers."
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 joint venture proved so successful, Brooks Brothers opened a standalone Black Fleece store located in New York City's West Village.
Moncler Gamme Bleu
In 2008, Browne teamed up with the French sportswear company and down
apparel specialist Moncler to design their men's top line Moncler Gamme Bleu. 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 and thereafter by Giambattista Valli - 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), at the Milanese public indoor swimming pool Piscina Cozzi (summer 2010), and at a military-style barrack mockup (winter 2010).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fashion designer. He is the founder and head of design for Thom Browne, a New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based menswear brand. Browne was named the Council of Fashion Designers of America
Council of Fashion Designers of America
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. is a not-for-profit trade association of over 350 of America’s foremost fashion and accessory designers. As of 2009, Diane von Fürstenberg is the group's President and Steven Kolb is the Executive Director...
(CFDA) Menswear Designer of the Year in March 2006 and named the GQ Designer of the Year in November 2008.
Early life
Browne grew up in Allentown, PennsylvaniaAllentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, where he graduated from William Allen High School
William Allen High School
William Allen High School is one of two public high schools of the Allentown School District located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States....
. He then attended the University of Missouri and a transfer to University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, where he received a degree in economics. He was also a member of the swim team. Following an attempt at acting in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Browne moved to New York City in 1997 for a job as a salesman in Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani is an Italian fashion designer, particularly noted for his menswear. He is known today for his clean, tailored lines. He formed his company, Armani, in 1975, and by 2001 was acclaimed as the most successful designer to come out of Italy, with an annual turnover of $1.6 billion and a...
’s showroom.
Browne was picked up by Club Monaco
Club Monaco
Club Monaco is a mid-priced, high-end casual clothing retailer owned by Polo Ralph Lauren. With more than 69 stores in North America, the retailer has locations in Canada, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, South Korea, China, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, United...
, a brand of the Polo Ralph Lauren
Polo Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren Corporation is a luxury clothing and goods company of the American fashion designer Ralph Lauren. Ralph Lauren specializes in high-end casual/semi-formal wear for men and women, as well as accessories, fragrances, home and housewares...
Corporation, to lead its creative development team. He worked with the American fashion designer Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren is an American fashion designer and business executive; best known for his Polo Ralph Lauren clothing brand.-Early life:...
in this capacity. Browne spent several years at Club Monaco leading its design department before launching his own label.
The label
Browne’s menswear line was created as a response to the broad acceptance of business casual in lieu of formal attire.A Thom Browne suit is distinctive in structure and fit. The suits are composed of flat front pants with exposed ankles and a jacket that concludes mid-wrist and doesn't cover the backside. They almost always have either two or three buttons, narrow lapels, side vents, and trouser without belt loops. The designer is best known for wearing suits in a range of charcoal-grey colors, always paired with a tie cut from the same fabric, a silver tie clip, a white button down shirt, and black leather dress shoes. Since its debut in 2001, the Thom Browne collection has extended into a more complete menswear line with dress shirts, sweaters, ties, underwear, and accessories. Thom Browne can be purchased at retailers around the world and at the flagship store on Hudson Street
Hudson Street (Manhattan)
Hudson Street is a north/south oriented street in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Running from TriBeCa to Greenwich Village and through Hudson Square, Hudson Street has two distinct one-way traffic patterns that meet at Abingdon Square, at the street's intersection with Eighth Avenue and...
in TriBeCa
TriBeCa
Tribeca is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York in the United States. Its name is an acronym based on the words "Triangle below Canal Street", and is properly bounded by Canal Street, West Street, Broadway, and Vesey Street...
.
Collaborations
Black Fleece by Brooks BrothersOn September 8, 2006, Brooks Brothers
Brooks Brothers
Brooks Brothers is the oldest men's clothier chain in the United States. Founded in 1818 as a family business, the privately owned company is now owned by Retail Brand Alliance, also features clothing for women, and is headquartered on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, New York City.-History:On April 7,...
announced its partnership with Browne as part of a guest designer program to create and distribute a 50-piece men and women’s high-end collection, called Black Fleece by Brooks Brothers. Claudio Del Vecchio, Chairman and CEO of Brooks Brothers, felt that "Thom Browne's brilliant eye, his ability to foreshadow the market and offer a special look will bring a new dimension to Brooks Brothers."
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 joint venture proved so successful, Brooks Brothers opened a standalone Black Fleece store located in New York City's West Village.
Moncler Gamme Bleu
In 2008, Browne teamed up with the French sportswear company and down
Down feather
The down of birds is a layer of fine feathers found under the tougher exterior feathers. Very young birds are clad only in down. Powder down is a specialized type of down found only in a few groups of birds. Down is a fine thermal insulator and padding, used in goods such as jackets, bedding,...
apparel specialist Moncler to design their men's top line Moncler Gamme Bleu. 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 and thereafter by Giambattista Valli - had proven very successful. Browne's first collection for Moncler was presented in January 2009 and has since been shown at Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
Fashion week
Fashion Week
A fashion week is a fashion industry event, lasting approximately one week, which allows fashion designers, brands or "houses" to display their latest collections in runway shows and buyers and the media to take a look at the latest trends. Most importantly, these events let the industry know...
. 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), at the Milanese public indoor swimming pool Piscina Cozzi (summer 2010), and at a military-style barrack mockup (winter 2010).
External links
- Thom Browne official website
- "The Dapper Mr. Browne," New York Magazine, August 20, 2006
- Thom Browne to Remain at Black Fleece, Vogue UK, July 3, 2008
- "New Thom Browne CEO Maps Growth Strategy" WWD, July 2, 2009