Peter Hawkings, who presented his first collection as Creative director of Tom Ford at Milan Fashion Week last September, is leaving the brand after just one year. Guillaume Jesel, President and CEO of Tom Ford and Luxury Business Development for The Estée Lauder Companies, thanked Hawkings for his extraordinary contribution to the brand since its inception. Lelio Gavazza, CEO of Tom Ford Fashion, also thanked Hawkings for his work with Tom Ford Fashion since it became part of the Ermenegildo Zegna Group, recognizing his and his team’s contributions during this important early stage of development.
Hawkings’ departure comes as a surprise to many in the fashion industry, given his long-standing relationship with the brand and its founder, Tom Ford. Hawkings began working with Ford in 1998 as a menswear design assistant at Gucci and later became the company’s senior men’s designer. He left Gucci in 2006 to join Ford in launching his eponymous brand, overseeing the design and production of menswear and eventually adding accessories, including eyewear, bags, shoes and jewelry. Hawkings rose to senior vice president of Tom Ford menswear before being named Creative director last year.
Despite mixed reviews for his collections, Hawkings was praised by Ford upon his appointment as “an incredibly talented leader with tremendous industry experience,” and Ford expressed confidence that Hawkings would continue the brand’s commitment to high design and quality. However, it appears that Hawkings’ vision for the brand may not have aligned with that of the company’s leadership.
The brand’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection will be presented at the Milan showroom in September, and a successor will be announced soon, according to the company’s statement. The news marks the latest in a series of upheavals at luxury fashion houses, with several of the world’s biggest brands currently without Creative directors, including Chanel, Givenchy and Dries Van Noten.
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