(center) at
Barack Obama's second inauguration, wearing a Browne silk jacquard coat and dress in a navy checked pattern based on "a men's necktie fabric" Browne pursued an acting career in
Los Angeles from 1992 to 1998. He added the "H" to his birth name Tom because his name was taken by someone else in the
Screen Actors Guild. He also worked as a production assistant and script reader on films. with its first shop in New York's
West Village. Thom Grey was a one-year-only project and was subsequently discontinued. The brand's first external investor, Japan's Stripe International (formerly Cross), gave the company the capital it needed to recover from the
2008 financial crisis, before selling its stake on to Sandbridge Capital – a private equity firm whose advisors included
Tommy Hilfiger,
Domenico De Sole and
Dominique de Villepin – the brand launched its women's wear line in 2011; by 2021, it comprised nearly half the company's revenue. two years later, it increased its share to 90 percent. at
Paris Fashion Week. Browne has produced four films that accompanied his collections, including the spring 2007 short "The Septemberists" (in collaboration with
Anthony Goicolea); a 10-minute black-and-white film starring skier
Lindsey Vonn for his fall 2021 women's collection; and the 29-minute "Looking Forward to Tomorrow" depicting the loneliness of marathon training for his spring 2022 men's collection. The brand brought its sunglasses business in-house in 2022. The brand's childrenwear range was launched in 2021.
Collaborations In September 2006,
Brooks Brothers announced its partnership with Browne as part of a guest designer program to create and distribute a 50-piece men's and women's high-end collection, Black Fleece by Brooks Brothers. The line appeared exclusively in 30 Brooks Brothers stores worldwide beginning in September 2007. In July 2008, Thom Browne and Brooks Brothers announced they would continue their partnership in the Black Fleece collection for another three years. Brooks Brothers opened a standalone Black Fleece store located in New York City's
West Village. In 2008, Browne teamed up with the Italian sportswear company and
down apparel specialist
Moncler to design their men's top line
Moncler Gamme Bleu, which launched in January 2009. The line was shown at
Milan Fashion Week. In September 2020, Browne made a scarf as part of
Joe Biden's "Believe in Better" fashion collection, which included collaborations from 18 other fashion designers around the country as part of the
Biden's 2020 presidential campaign. His scarf, along with the rest of the collection, was made in unionized factories and is available for purchase; all purchase proceeds were donated to Biden's presidential campaign.
Style and themes Browne's style and themes revolve around blending traditional menswear with
avant-garde elements. His designs are both
classic and
subversive, rooted in the gray suit but transformed into fashion statements through unconventional cuts, proportions, and
androgynous detailing. Browne frequently explores the concept of the "
uniform", with his collections adhering to a strict aesthetic code while allowing for personal expression within the structure. He creates a cohesive identity across his brand but emphasizing the duality of uniformity.
Marketing Thom Browne has dressed teams including the
Cleveland Cavaliers and
FC Barcelona. In 2018,
LeBron James led the entire Cleveland Cavaliers team during the
NBA playoffs in coordinated gray Thom Browne suits. In 2026, Browne presented his Fall 2026 collection at the GQ Bowl in San Francisco ahead of Super Bowl LX. ==Awards and honors==