Thom Browne entering deal with Woolmark

New York - Thom Browne has just made history as the first U.S. designer to enter a deal with Woolmark Co. Under the deal, the designer will use Cool Wool in both his men's runway and commercial item pieces. Browne, whose claim to fame includes cropped suit pants for men, will be using exclusively Australian merino wool for his 2016 and 2017 collections.

The designer, who has been serving on the Australian Wool Board since 2004, was the perfect choice to enter a deal with Woolmark Co. given how often he uses wool in all of his suiting offerings. In an interview with WWD, Browne said wool "has long been an essential element of my collection and this partnership with The Woolmark Company allows me to further explore the possibilities and potential of the fiber. We’re using more wool in our spring collections each year and its natural benefits such as breathability and shape retention mean it is perfect for lightweight suiting.”

For his next spring collection, Browne will be using Cool-Wool and Woolmark certified fabrics for his suits, shorts, knitwear, scarves, ties, shoes, and bags. Cool Wool is a type of wool that is part of a series of five lightweight woolen fabrics, created especially for warm seasons and dry climates.

Woolmark's managing director, Stuart McCollough, told WWD that Browne's “brilliant eye and celebrity following” make him a “natural fit for The Woolmark Company as we continue to champion merino wool apparel to a younger generation.”

Some of the pieces that will be offered in the collection include a houndstooth blazer for 1950 dollars, a houndstooth vest for 1150 dollars, and low-rise skinny side tab trousers for 2300 dollars just to name a few. The items will be carried at Thom Browne's boutique in Tribeca, in addition to being sold on ssense.com and luisaviaroma.com.

This will be an exciting new partnership for Browne, as his nine-year contact to design Brooks Brothers Black Fleece Collection ended this fall. He is also entering a deal with Moncler to design their Gamme Bleu line. He's certainly come a long way from opening his first made-to-measure store back in 2003.

This deal is not the only thing Browne has to look forward to. The designer has announced that he has plans to open six to seven stores around the globe over the next six months. With estimated total sales of 60 million dollars annually according to market sources, he's sure to have no problem expanding globally at this rate.

photo: Wonderland Magazine