Tom Ford has canceled his fall 2022 runway show, originally scheduled to cap off New York Fashion Week at 8 p.m. on February 16. The brand cites the ongoing spread of the Omicron variant in Los Angeles and in its factories in Italy as the reason for the cancellation, explaining that Ford’s fall 2022 collection will not be ready by the scheduled show date.
“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,” wrote Ford in a statement. “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’s cancellation will hit the American fashion community hard—not only is he a tentpole of NYFW, but he’s also the chairman of the CFDA and as such is American fashion’s championer in chief. The question that will now is: Will other designers follow in Ford’s stead? He’s promised that his fall 2022 collection will be presented later this year in a virtual format.