In April 2005, Tom Ford announced the creation of the TOM FORD brand. Ford was joined in this venture by former Gucci Group President and Chief Executive Officer Domenico De Sole, who serves as Chairman of the company. That same year. Ford announced his partnership with Marcolin Group to produce and distribute optical frames and sunglasses, as well as an alliance with Esteé Lauder to create the TOM FORD BEAUTY brand. In April 2007, his first directly owned flagship store opened in New York at 845 Madison Avenue to coincided with the debut of the TOM FORD Menswear and Accessory collection. In September 2010, Ford presented his much anticipated womenswear collection. Presently, there are 110 freestanding TOM FORD stores and shop-in-shops in locations such as New York, Toronto, Beverly Hills, Zurich, Milan, Puerto Banus, Moscow, Osaka, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Baku, Dubai, Tokyo, Seoul, Montreal, San Francisco, Beirut, Hong Kong, Shanghai, New Delhi, Rome, London, Kowloon, Munich, Beijing, and Sydney.
