Fashion

Thom Browne | The Brand with the Four Stripes

Providing us with his signature tailoring since 2004, luxury men’s and womenswear label Thom Browne is a regular on fashion month runways. Famed for their signature four stripes and eccentric fashion week shows, Thom Browne is another designer who excels in collaboration with other creatives, working with the likes of Moncler, Brooks Brothers, Barcelona FC and Supreme. From the people wearing the brand to magical runway shows, here’s a look into all things Thom Browne.

@thombrowne

#1 The brand with the four stripes

Unlike other designers, Thom Browne doesn’t have an official logo. Instead the label is identified by its signature silhouettes and instantly recognised by the four white horizontal stripes featured in each collection, whether that be on a Thom Browne cardigan or shirt.

#2 Thom Browne’s history

Thom started his career in the fashion world working as a tailor, a passion that’s translated into his future collections. He then went on to become a salesman for luxury fashion label Giorgio Armani and later a designer for Club Monaco. In 2004 he launched his first collection of ready-to-wear menswear, comprising of made to measure suits in classic navy and grey flannel, a theme that runs through his collections season after season.

Inspired by his father who wore suits to work every day and American mid-century preppy style, slim fitting and short trims are the signature Thom Browne design. In the same year, Thom partnered with the Brooks Brothers as part of a guest designer program and ventured into womenswear with his collection called Black Fleece. Achieving not only impressive collaborations with luxury designers, they have also been celebrated by the CFDA after winning the Menswear Designer of the Year Award three times.

#3 Why is Thom Browne popular?

Arguably the reason Thom Browne is so popular is because of his attitude towards fashion. He designs to have fun, he doesn’t look for approval and he pushes back on the stereotypical fashion boundaries. His designs are always authentically himself and there has become a greater appreciation for that.

Throughout the pandemic, he did not trade his unwavering sartorial style like many for elasticated waistbands. His structured and maximal designs are often quirky and sometimes awkward to look at. Many people questioned his ankle grazer trousers length wondering if the fit was right.

Thom Browne also dramatically blurs the lines with genderless freedom, pushing back on societal fashion norms. His iconic skirts springs to mind! Actors such as David Harbour and style icon Oscar Isaac have all posed in the influential skirt.

#4 Thom Browne collaborations

Collaborating with like minded talent and brands has been a key part of Thom Browne’s success. Starting off his career in 2006 with a partnership with America’s longest-standing retailer Brooks Brothers on a 50-piece men’s and women’s collection called Black Fleece. Following the success of the collaboration luxury skiwear designer, Moncler enlisted Thom Browne to design a men’s line Moncler Gamme Bleu.

In 2010, Thom merged high fashion tailoring with streetwear when we collaborated on a collection of three shirts with Supreme. Later in 2012, the brand collaborated with luxury department store Barneys New York on a diffusion line called Thom Grey, offering bespoke tailored suits with complimentary personalisation on selected pieces.

Thom Browne

In 2018 Thom Browne’s lifelong love of sport was demonstrated when he announced his official partnership with Barcelona FC – arguably one of the biggest partnerships to date.

As the team’s official tailor for off-field uniforms, players wear full Thom Browne tailored suits including wool shirts, button-down cardigans, white oxford shirts and a tie scarf all co-branded with the FC Barcelona crest. The charitable collection donates all proceeds to the FC Barcelona Barca Foundation.

#5 Thom Browne’s Tennis Pro Private Club – St Tropez

This summer Thom Browne opened up a luxury concept tennis pro store in St Tropez. The shop has a soft minimalist and masculine aesthetic with a private and tranquil feeling.

The concept is around wellness with sports always being a big part of Thom’s life. The club has two clay courts, as well as two pools, and a yoga and meditation deck with bikes and water supplies that members can use.

#6 Thom Browne runway shows

As well as his memorable designs, Thom Browne’s Fashion Week shows always deliver high impact. Designs are inspired by themes from Thom’s life whether that’s his sporting influence or family traditions, and his shows are an opportunity for his creativity to flourish.

Archived favourites are the Thom Browne FW20 show which was transformed into a winter wonderland. Covered in snow and walked two by two by models donning animal heads to represent the theme of Noah’s Arc and the Climate Change movement.

Thom Browne’s SS19 runway show was a spectacle full of garden gnomes, sunflowers and white picket fences. Guests were given a pair of sunglasses, a lollipop and a note on their chairs that read “Please see the world through my eyes.”

@voguerunway

The Thom Browne AW22 for next season once again was inspired by New York, “an island of misfit toys”. About the way people “come to the city “to find themselves and create themselves”. The collection celebrated people’s weird and quirky personality traits. Encouraging people’s acceptance of their authentic selves.