Thom Browne Biography

Thom Browne 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 2003.

Early life and education

Browne grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he graduated from William Allen High School He then attended the University of Notre Dame, where he received a degree in economics and was a member of the swim team.

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 US-American fashion designer Ralph Lauren. Browne spent several years at Club Monaco leading its design department before launching his own label

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 and women"?s high-end collection, Black Fleece by Brooks Brothers. 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."

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.

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. 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).

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

Personal life

Browne lives with Andrew Bolton, who is curator at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.