When Tom Ford started his namesake brand in 2004, his longtime deputy at @Gucci Peter Hawkings was his first call — and his first employee. Fast-forward to April 2023, Hawkings’ phone rang again. Only this time, Ford said he was stepping down and putting Hawkings forward for the top job.

“I didn’t sleep for the first two nights. It was crazy,” Hawkings said of his reaction to the news that he would step into his longtime boss’ shoes and become creative director of the eponymous brand he created. “But after all of that subsided, I realised that Tom [Ford] was giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. And I am, to this day, super grateful to him for giving me this chance to continue the legacy.”

This week on The BoF Podcast, BoF founder and editor-in-chief @imranamed sits down with Hawkings, the new creative director of Tom Ford following his runway debut at #MilanFashionWeek to discuss his origins and journey into the fashion industry — and his plans to continue the Tom Ford legacy.

?️ Listen to the full episode, or download wherever you get your podcasts. #linkinbio

✍️ @imranamed
? Ferry Van Der Nat