Haider Ackermann has been announced as the new Creative Director of American luxury fashion house Tom Ford, taking over from one of the brand’s longest-serving employees, Peter Hawkings, who announced his departure this July.
Ackermann, who was born in Colombia and raised in France, is mainly known for his work at his eponymous brand. His designs have become celebrity favourites, with Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner being notable fans.
“It is with tremendous pride that I will seek to honour the legacy of Tom Ford, a man I have long admired and have the utmost respect for,” Ackermann said in a statement today.
The role makes him responsible for masterminding all of Tom Ford’s fashion output, including womenswear, menswear, accessories and eyewear, as well as guiding “the creative vision for the overall brand.”
The first look at Ackermann’s work for Tom Ford will come in March 2025, during the AW25 edition of Paris Fashion Week.
Tom Ford himself has addressed the news, saying: “I have long been a great fan of Haider’s work. I find both his womenswear and menswear equally compelling. He is an incredible colourist, his tailoring is sharp, and above all, he is modern.
“We share many of the same historical references, and I could not be more excited to see what he does with the brand. I suspect that I will be the first on my feet to applaud after his show in March.”
Ford stepped down as Creative Director of the brand in 2023, succeeded by his longtime colleague and right-hand man Peter Hawkings, who had headed up menswear at the brand prior to being appointed Creative Director across the house, and who had been a presence at Tom Ford since the brand’s inception.
However, Hawkings lasted less than a year as creative director, with parent company Estée Lauder abruptly announcing his shock departure in July this year.
As well as his namesake brand, which ceased production in 2020, Ackermann served a successful stint at French leather maker and menswear brand Berluti, and has held roles at Maison Ullens and Fila, as well as a cameo season at Jean Paul Gaultier couture.
Ackermann was appointed as Creative Director of Canada Goose mere months ago, in May 2024, though it is unclear whether he will retain this role while also acting as Creative Director of Tom Ford.
A much lauded designer, Ackermann was famously once suggested as a potential successor to Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel, by none other than Lagerfeld himself and had been touted as a potential name for the top position at Chanel following the departure of Lagerfeld's successor Virginie Viard in June.
This announcement comes in line with the start of fashion month, with New York Fashion Week starting on Thursday. As well as the empty seat at Chanel, Givenchy is also without a creative head, while rumours abound concerning the fate of other high profile luxury house incumbents. This is set to be the first of many announcements to thrill the industry over the next few weeks of front row intrigue.
Too bad for Karl, then, because it looks like Ackermann is firmly planted at Tom Ford for the foreseeable.
