Todd Thomas (designer)
Todd Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1961 Murphysboro, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Artist, director, educator, fashion designer |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Known for | Designer for Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (2005–2013), founder and creative director of independent label |
Todd Thomas (born 1961) is an American multidisciplinary artist, director, educator, and fashion designer based in New York City. With a career spanning more than four decades, he has crafted designs for runway shows, editorial shoots, television, cinema, live performances, and tours. He is particularly distinguished for his eleven-year role as a designer for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show during its height of popularity. Thomas currently heads his own independent label as founder, creative director, and lead designer.
Early life and education
Todd Thomas was born in 1961 in Murphysboro, Illinois and relocated to St. Louis, Missouri at age 17 to pursue a career in fashion design. There, he acquired hands-on experience in garment cutting and finishing for manufacturing companies and drew creative influence from the punk rock subculture. He attributes much of his foundational industry knowledge and personal artistic development to the St. Louis community and the vibrant 1980s "Do-it-Yourself" movement.
Career
In 1983, Thomas moved to New York City, where he broadened his artistic and design skills through involvement in theater, film, and the fashion industry along Seventh Avenue. His costume design credits include films such as Angela (1995), Office Killer (1997), and Trouble on the Corner (1997), as well as the 2013 music video "Time Lords" by Heloise and the Savoir Faire.
Between 2005 and 2013, Thomas contributed to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show as a designer within Collection Production. From 2012 to 2014, he held the positions of Strategic Design Consultant and Menswear Design Director for Ramblers Way Farm, a brand focused on sustainability.
Thomas showcased designs from both Ramblers Way and Victoria's Secret in the "Off the Rails" exhibition at St. Louis’s Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design.
In 2016, he assumed the role of Senior Director at Barrett Barrera Projects' New York branch, overseeing developmental initiatives including Charliewood New York and Spacewalker (2018), a project created in partnership with Christine Corday. Additionally, he co-hosted the 2020 Apple Podcast Series Art is a Verb alongside Susan Barrett, engaging in dialogues with creative leaders about art’s transformative power.
His latest studio collection, Past Present Future (2020), examined consumer engagement with fashion through an installation in Tribeca that merged ready-to-wear garments with custom pieces. This collection premiered at New York Fashion Week, featuring collaborations such as printed textiles inspired by abstract paintings from artist Belinda Lee. The pieces were retailed directly to consumers and select specialty outlets.
Thomas has served as an adjunct faculty member at Parsons School of Design, provided mentorship for emerging professionals at the LGBTQ+ Ali Forney Center, and participated as a guest lecturer at Washington University in St. Louis’s Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts during Fashion Lab’s Yarn lecture series.
Described by Fashion Week Online as having "sharp observational abilities," Thomas is regarded as a highly sought-after collaborator and consultant within New York’s cultural and fashion communities.