Tom Ford departed his position as creative director at Gucci in 2004[4] and founded his own eponymous label in April 2005.

[9] In April 2007, the first directly owned Tom Ford flagship boutique opened at 845 Madison Avenue in New York City.

The event featured celebrity models such as Beyoncé, Julianne Moore, Lauren Hutton, Daphne Guinness, and Rita Wilson.

On April 28, 2023, The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) announced that it had completed its acquisition of the Tom Ford brand for $2.8 billion.

[21] As part of the sale, the Zegna Group took full control of Tom Ford International which owns and operates the fashion business.

[27] During his incumbency as Creative Director of Yves Saint Laurent, Ford had developed a rare black orchid as the brand's new in-house flower.

[29][30][31] Previous to launching Black Orchid, Ford had worked with Estée Lauder, signing a deal in April 2005 and releasing Youth Dew Amber Nude, the following fall, and Azure, in spring 2006.

[32] On 27 February 2006, having already started his brand, Black Orchid, the name for Ford's new fragrance with Estée Lauder Companies was made public.

"[34] Black Orchid by Tom Ford Beauty, as officially named, and manufactured by Esteé Lauder Companies, was finally released on 15 November.

"[39] Later in the month it was announced that Black Orchid would be initially sold in a few upscale specialty stores and would increase to a maximum of fewer than 300 by the following spring.

"[51] Black Orchid was launched on 2 November 2006 at the Saks Fifth Avenue flagship store,[52] where Ford arrived to recommend strategies to the sales associates.

Saks, as well as Neiman Marcus and Holt Renfrew stores, limited to a total of 50, started selling the fragrance on Sunday, 5 November.

[57] The perfume bottle was photographed by Irving Penn,[49] while the December 2006 British Vogue issue contained a five-page gatefold depicting the fragrance.

[58] For her part, Restoin Roitfeld was photographed "in an old-style Hollywood glamour shot, all red lipstick, dreamy hair and bedroom eyes.

"[69] Rose Prick is also the name of a tie-in lip colour set, which was described by the South China Morning Post as "wears effortlessly from day into night,"[70] as well as an eponymous $132[71] (£98)[72] candle, described as having a "spicy floral scent.

At his Spring/Summer 2018 collection runway show, held in September 2017 as part of New York Fashion Week, Tom Ford garnered media attention for unveiling a new Private Blend fragrance titled "Fucking Fabulous".