James Ford (fashion designer)
James Ford (born November 24, 1990) is a Los Angeles-based fashion designer known for his playful, energetic, genre-blending style.[1][2] He was a competitor on Netflix's Next in Fashion in 2023, hosted by Gigi Hadid and Tan France.[3]
Early life and education[edit]
Ford was born in Kentucky[4] to Maureen and Jeff Ford. In 2009 he moved to Fort Collins, Colorado. Ford was a high school athlete playing basketball, baseball, soccer and track, achieving many notable awards and distinctions.[citation needed] In 2013 he graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Construction Engineering, he later earned an M.A. in 2017 from the University of Southern California in Fashion Journalism.[5][failed verification]
His podcast went on to be featured on Elle Canada's Top 9 Best Fashion Podcasts of 2019.[6] He was also honored at USC receiving the Jack Langguth Award in 2019 for his contribution to journalism.[7]
Career[edit]
Ford worked in commercial fashion for the luxury cashmere brand, the Elder Statesman, LA-based workwear company Hedley & Bennett, among other brands.[8]
In 2020, he started his own line, Rowena Social Club, where he remains the President and Creative Director. The brand is a ecomm based clothing and apparel line, focusing on serving the LGBTQ market both in the U.S. and international.[9]
Since then, he has styled and designed for many celebrities, including Beth Dover (Orange Is the New Black), Melissa Fumero (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Andrew McMahon (Something Corporate, Jack's Mannequin), and ND Stevenson (Nimona).[10]
Next in Fashion[edit]
Ford was a contestant on Season 2 of Netflix's Next in Fashion, hosted by Gigi Hadid and Tan France. His work captured the heart of fashion luminaries such as Donatella Versace, Jason Bolden, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, Isabel Marant, Helena Christensen, and Emma Chamberlain.
Ford completed 5 episodes, being eliminated on the 5th challenge. The decision was an emotional moment on the show, the hosts seemingly sad to see him leave the competition.
References[edit]
- ^ Ford, James. "Outfit the Podcast". Podbean. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ "Meet Fashion Designer James Ford". Now This News. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ "Gigi Hadid, Tan France talk friendship, co-hosting 'Next in Fashion'". The Today Show. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ Woosley-Collins, Hannah (15 March 2023). "Kentucky man competing on Netflix's new season of 'Next in Fashion'". WTQV. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ Kleinmann, James (5 March 2023). "Exclusive Interview James Ford". The Queer Review. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ "9 of the best fashion podcasts". Elle Canada. 2017-06-22. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
- ^ "Fashioning a podcast for the LGBTQ community". annenberg.usc.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
- ^ "How To L.A. - How I Got Started: Fashion Designer James Ford #121". LAist Podcast. LAist. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ Seth, Kenisha (2021). "Trans Designer James Ford to Debut 2023 Fall/Winter Collection for Rowena Social Club". PhotoBook Magazine. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ "Next in Fashion's James Ford on Reclaiming His Identity Through Clothing". advocatechannel.com. Retrieved 2024-02-21.