Tom Ford cancels New York Fashion Week show

Tom Ford has announced the cancellation of his fall 2022 runway show, originally scheduled to close New York Fashion Week on 16 February.

The American designer cites the impact of the Omicron variant on his atelier and design studio in Los Angeles and in his factories in Italy as the reason for the cancellation, adding that his fall 2022 collection will not be ready by the scheduled show date.

Ford wrote in a statement: "I am incredibly disappointed not to be able to present a show during New York fashion week as I feel strongly that a live presentation is the best way to convey a clear message for the season.

"We have struggled internally over the past month with many of our staff out with COVID in our design studio and atelier in Los Angeles as well as in our factories in Italy. We have tried everything possible to avoid canceling our New York show but ultimately are faced with the sad fact that we will simply not have a completed collection in time for New York Fashion Week."

Ford, who is also Chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, will instead release images of the collection digitally later this year. Other designers including Telfar, Tory Burch, Coach and Helmut Lang are planning to continue with traditional NYFW shows.