Thom Browne might now be known for his bespoke suits and otherworldly couture, seen on the likes of Doechii, Jaden Smith, Erykah Badu, and Beyoncé, but how did he become such a GOAT in the world of tailoring?
Growing up in Pennsylvania, Tom Browne (he added the “h” later) came from a strong Catholic Irish-Italian family. As a kid, he served as an alter boy - something that influences his designs now - and eventually studied economics (not fashion, surprisingly).
It was when Tom set out to start a career in acting that he met and started designing custom suits for Johnson Hartig - who later founded the brand Libertine. This was the same time Tom added the “h” to his name and became Thom Browne - with no formal training, he was on his way to being one of his generation’s hardest tailors.
He spent time working at Club Monaco alongside Ralph Lauren, before leaving to launch the Thom Browne label in 2001. It’s here that Browne developed the fit he’s now known for: a signature grey suit, reimagined into shrunken, fitted proportions.
Since then, Thom Browne has designed looks for plenty of celebrities, from Doechii’s 2025 Grammy’s performance fits to Ayo Edibiri’s custom chef jacket which she wore in The Bear Season 2.
Thom Browne also regularly dresses guests for the Met Gala, famously fitting out Janelle Monae and Jaden Smith’s tailored looks in 2024. We know this year he’ll be a fan favourite among attendees given the theme is all about tailoring: and that’s Thom Browne’s forte.
Featured image via Thom Browne©
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