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Todd Snyder on Building a $130 Million Menswear Empire
For Todd Snyder, resilience is about dreaming big and staying true to his roots. The recipient of WWD’s 2024 Menswear Designer of the Year award, Snyder shared insights into the journey of growing his menswear brand to a $130 million powerhouse over the last 13 years.
Starting from humble beginnings in Iowa, Snyder was inspired by family encouragement to pursue his passion in New York City. Despite initially planning to follow in his father’s footsteps as an engineer, his love for fashion prevailed. His determination led him to cold-call brands like Ralph Lauren and secure an internship, building his skills as a tailor and gaining an edge over other designers.
At J.Crew, Snyder gained prominence with “The Liquor Store,” a men’s retail concept that became a career milestone, propelling him toward launching his own label. The connections he made and his side projects helped him navigate the 2008 recession, establishing the Todd Snyder brand with strategic moves like selling T-shirts to Old Navy to finance his collection.
In 2015, American Eagle Outfitters acquired his Tailgate brand along with the Todd Snyder label. This partnership, especially under the mentorship of CEO Jay Schottenstein, helped Snyder weather challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and drove his expansion. Following Schottenstein’s advice, Snyder opened additional stores even during the pandemic, a decision that paid off in spades.
Today, Snyder is on track to open 50 stores, with 19 currently in operation and more planned. This year, he made a return to the runway, debuting collections at Pitti Uomo and New York Fashion Week, which rekindled his love for designing.
With future goals of international expansion, Snyder remains open to new avenues, stating, “Never say never” about the possibility of entering women’s fashion. His journey serves as a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and strategic relationships in building a fashion legacy.
