The Making of a Fashion Mogul

Tory Burch's business empire

In 2020, the iconic fashion brand Tory Burch raked in over $300 million in revenue.

When Tory started her eponymous brand in 2004, her signature preppy-boho aesthetic was just a small collection of women's clothing and accessories.

She’d spent more than 16 years preparing for this leap. Her first job was at Benetton at the King of Prussia mall. In 1988, she cold-called her way into a job with a NY-based Yugoslavian designer Zoran.

After Zoran, she worked at Harper’s Bizarre, Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang, and Loewe, a well-known Italian fashion house. The skills, network, and experience compounded the whole way.

When she finally started her own company, they sold products through small boutiques, then eventually department stores. Later, she opened her own retail stores and grew her e-commerce capabilities.

Years of watching the trends trained Tory’s ability to identify and meet a demand in the market.

When she launched her fashion line, there was a gap in the market for stylish, affordable, and accessible designer clothing. Tory Burch filled this gap at relatively lower price points compared to other luxury brands.

Before Kylie Jenner, Tory was one of the world’s youngest self-made female billionaires. Her skills compounded faster than her competition, and she transformed the fashion world as a result.

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