Tom Ford rumored to become CFDA's new chairman

By

Gabriella Lacombe

Published
Mar 15, 2019

Word is spreading throughout the American fashion scene that Tom Ford will become the next chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

According to the rumors, which were reported to WWD by an anonymous source, current CFDA chairman Diane von Furstenberg is looking to retire from her post, and Ford could be announced as her successor as early as Tuesday.

Von Furstenberg's departure from the role would mark the end of her 13-year career growing the relevance of the New York season, and, by extension, bolstering the city's reputation as a global fashion capital. In 2005, the designer received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the CFDA for her impact on fashion, and was elected the CFDA's president the next year. The designer was later named chairman, an updated version of the title, in 2015.

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If the election comes to fruition, Ford is set to become the role's 11th face, falling in with former heads Stan Herman, Sydney Wragge, Norman Norell, Oscar de la Renta, Herbert Kasper, Bill Blass, Mary McFadden, Perry Ellis and Carolyne Roehm.

As chairman, Ford would be responsible for assisting CFDA chief executive officer Steven Kolb in guiding the organization through fashion's most pressing issues, including the complex questions of sustainability and diversity, two topics the CFDA has focused on with recent reports and initiatives.

These social responsibilities, coupled with matters of season scheduling, award shows, and the organization of efforts to support new and upcoming designers have been shown to cause fatigue: Diane von Furstenberg herself, renowned for her tireless work ethic and miracle-making network, has previously gone back and forth on retiring.