Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Fashion & Style

Meet Up Mondays: Todd Snyder

By

Image used with permission by copyright holder
In the race to be the next great American designer, few have been more closely watched by retailers and editors than Todd Snyder. A native of Iowa, Snyder learned how to cut and sew classic menswear at the Des Moines haberdashery Badowers. He later went to Polo Ralph Lauren to hone his hand at outerwear and then Gap where he was the director of menswear. By most accounts, though, Snyder is most fondly remembered at J.Crew for energizing its men’s offerings, introducing formalwear and paving the path for exclusive multi-branded collaborations with the likes of Timex, Red Wing, Alden and Thomas Mason, thereby setting off a menswear retail renaissance. In turn, when Snyder finally launched his own namesake collection in the Fall of 2011, retailers from Bergdorf Goodman to Neiman Marcus didn’t hesitate in the least to stock their shelves with Snyder’s cool, understated and luxurious menswear. Today, the CFDA Swarovski Award nominee, GQ Best New Menswear Designer and 2013 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist remains one of the hottest tickets at New York Fashion Week and continues to expand his brand with savvy collaborations such as last year’s match-up with Champion that culminated in the opening of Snyder’s first store called City Gym. We checked in recently with the designer en route to Italy to learn more about his newest outpost in Tokyo and vision for the brand.

Congrats on the new store in Japan! You went big and opened a three-story shop! Tell us what are some of your favorite details of the store and is “big” something we can expect of the New York outpost when it eventually opens?

Recommended Videos

We originally started out looking for 2-3 small shops in Japan to open concept stores, based around the Todd Snyder brand including a tailor shop, shoe cobbler and the Todd Snyder + Champion collaboration. We stumbled upon this three-story building that had the perfect layout and we could include all of our concept shop ideas under one roof. It’s located in Shibuya on a major street right next door to Paul Smith and with the North Face concept store one block away. The store is amazing and I put everything I love into it. I even added a whiskey bar next to the tailor shop on the third floor. I wanted it to feel like a small boutique department store for men. The vibe is a mix of a New York Gramercy townhouse and Jermyn Street in London. We have over 100 styles of shoes ranging from Alden, Trickers, Grenson, Crocket & Jones and Sanders. My favorite part is the staff and the full-time tailor. They know more about me and the brands that we carry than I do. The next store will be in New York, but I don’t think it will be as big as the Tokyo store unless we find the right place.

Todd Snyder the brand is definitely having a moment. Do you feel like you’ve “arrived” then or is a designer’s work never done?

I don’t think I have arrived, but I have had some good fortune this year. I have a great team and they keep me moving forward. It’s important to evolve each year for our customer. 

Menswear is having its own moment too. What are your thoughts on the industry now?

I think we are in a menswear renaissance of sorts. I feel there is a creative energy around apparel, food, art, music and design right now and men are getting into it. I am shocked at how many 25-year-olds are into Alden shoes and Manhattan cocktails—that’s what my dad wore back in the day. It’s great to see guys getting into wearing ties and suits.

What do you think the next revolution might be in menswear then?

I think tailoring is the next. I think guys want to look cleaner and more refined.

tsLook2You’ve authored quite a number of successful collaborations from your days at J.Crew to Champion. When do you know if a collaboration is going to work?

I know a collaboration will work if it’s the right iconic brand that every man should be wearing. Champion is iconic for athletic apparel and it made sense to bring attention to the item they invented: the sweatshirt. Red Wing was the iconic work boot, so we dug into their archives to bring back the old designs.

Who’d be a dream company to collaborate with and why?

I have a few things in the works that will be announced in a few months. I would love to do furniture with DWR. I love Eames chairs.

Who are some of your greatest mentors in life and in business?

My mother and father are and were the best. My mother is an artist and my father was an engineer. They encouraged me to get into design. I started in architecture and finished in fashion design. They taught to me work hard and be nice. It’s the best advice ever. I have also been fortunate to work for the best in design and business, Ralph Lauren and Mickey Drexler. Mickey and I still talk regularly. He’s been the best mentor anyone could ask for.

tsLook16What’s the one maxim you live by?

The harder you work, the luckier you get.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Hopefully I will have a store in New York and one in London. That’s the dream.

Todd’s portrait by Peter Lindbergh.

Editors’ Recommendations

Tim Yap
Tim Yap
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Contributing writer Tim Yap was born in Kuala Lumpur and lived in Hong Kong, Singapore, Vancouver and Toronto prior to moving…
Doublet and Asics create the chicest cardboard-inspired sneaker around
Asics, Doublet release new shoe
pair of shoes from front from asics and doublet

Continuing its trend of going out of the norm, Asics is pairing up with Doublet to release a new version of the Gel-Kayano 20 you’ve never seen before. Inspired by a cardboard box, this new drop is all about celebrating mundane everyday items. Using materials and hues to recreate the feel of a box, this Gel-Kayano 20 is creative and practical. This design is ideal for those looking for a special item that can easily blend into your existing wardrobe. As with most of Asics’ recent collaborations, this shoe stays true to its classic silhouette and design, making it an easy grab for loyal fans. With the perfect amount of subtle hints, this new drop is fantastic for all styles and occasions. 
Doublet x Asics Gel-Kayano 20

Using an upper construction featuring the brand’s FLUIDFIT cage, the collaborative Gel-Kayano 20 has the perfect fit for all while donning a 2010-inspired aesthetic. Also featuring breathable mesh underlays and Asics’ GEL technology for the rear and forefoot, this shoe comes with all the technical components you love about the running brand. As an added measure for support and stability, this design comes equipped with a GUIDANCE TRUSSTIC system that will keep you on your feet all day. The duo also opted for a sand tonal hue and accents to resemble shipping tape for the perfect cardboard look. Now available via Doublet and Asics, the new sneaker retails for $225. Although many collaborative shoes have recently infused out-of-the-box designs, this Doublet x Asics Gel-Kayano 20 shoe proves you can still infuse style with sensible footwear. 

Read more
Municipal opens new flagship store in San Diego
Mark Wahlberg moves the headquarters of his fitness brand to San Diego
Municipal Store Opening

Mark Wahlberg has been one of Hollywood's most prominent and sought-after actors since he made waves in Boogie Nights. Since then, he has led comedies like Ted and The Other Guys and dramas like Four Brothers and The Departed. But he has been best known for being one of the top action stars in the business. From The Italian Job and Shooter to Lone Survivor and Mile 22, Wahlberg has proven himself to be one of the most capable in the game. A vital part of doing the job of an action star is getting in sensational shape. Now that he is seen as an incredibly fit leading man, he began helping others get in the same shape by launching a fitness brand. The new Municipal Flagship Store has a new home in San Diego and is bringing action star fitness to America's Finest City.
Bet on yourself

When Mark Wahlberg founded the brand in 2019 alongside Harry Arnett and Stephen Levinson, they brought fitness to the people of West Hollywood and globally online. The goal of Municipal has always been to offer the best clothing and shoes to people trying to be unstoppable all day long. The second store opening in Oceanside is bringing that goal to the southern part of the state along the beach. The store isn't just about clothing, shoes, and accessories. The new store will also feature a coffee shop for a post-workout pick-me-up, a haircut to ensure you look just as good above the neck as below, and a lounge to center yourself before and after the workout. With two stores under their belt, it is only a matter of time before they expand over more of the country.
Municipal

Read more
Flag & Anthem outfits country legend with Desert Son
Dierks Bentley still wears his collection on stage six years later
Dierks Bentley in Flag & Anthem flannel

There is a deep connection between country music lovers and other staples, like a good flannel, hats, tees, and the flag and national anthem. So when a country music star teams up with Flag & Anthem, it gets noticed. But most of the time, these collaborations are one-offs that fade out in a few months or a season. But the Flag & Anthem Desert Son collection with Dierks Bentley is still going strong six years later.

“Dierks’ lifestyle perfectly embodies our brand,” said Flag & Anthem co-founder Brad Gartman. “There is a strong synergy between his fans and our customers. We see Dierks and Desert Son as a natural integration with Flag & Anthem and look forward to a long partnership.” And a long partnership is what they got.
Perfect for the stage

Read more