SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Tom Ford International, the luxury line from the former creative head of Gucci, is seeking funding to expand into women's apparel, according to a report from Thomson Reuters' private equity website peHUB.
Citing unnamed sources, peHUB reported that the design house, based in New York, was looking for an investment of $50 million or more. It said Credit Suisse was managing the process.
Tom Ford launched his company in 2004 after a successful turnaround effort at Italian luxury brand Gucci, owned by French retailer PPR. He served as creative director at Gucci and also at Yves Saint-Laurent after the company's acquisition of that brand. The Tom Ford brand currently sells men's clothing and men's and women's eyewear and fragrances. Representatives for Tom Ford and Credit Suisse could not be reached for comment. The luxury goods market has been challenging in the global downturn, but experts believe shoppers are still willing to spend if products are unique and exclusive. (Writing by Alexandria Sage at Reuters) |
Singer Lady Gaga and fashion designer-turned-director Tom Ford's debut film were among the nominees for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's annual media awards. 
Fashion designer Tom Ford is best known for reinventing the house of Gucci in the 1990s and more recently, launching his own Tom Ford label. But Ford has shifted gears in recent months to movie directing and his debut "A Single Man". 
U.S. designer Tom Ford admits he is terrified. The man credited with turning around Gucci before launching his own design line has traded fashion for film with his debut feature "A Single Man," starring Colin Firth. 
"A Single Man," the directorial debut of fashion designer Tom Ford, will head a record 14 films in the third edition of the Queer Lion awards at the Venice Film Festival. 
Fashion designer Tom Ford is getting the cast in place for his long-awaited move into features. 
Former Gucci creative director Tom Ford is to open his first directly operated European stores in London and Milan within the next three years, his company announced Friday June 8th. 
