
Tory Burch
fashion designer
Even as a child Tory Burch had a signature style. Her friends dubbed it "Torywear" + it primarily consisted of comfortable clothes paired with exotic jewelry. Not too far from the looks adored by women all over the world today. Tory loved art + art history, but it was her first job out of college that launched the self-described tomboy into fashion—a stint as assistant to idiosyncratic designer Zoran, one of her mother Reva's favorites. From there, Harper's Bazaar, Vera Wang + Ralph Lauren, before taking a break to raise her 3 sons and 3 stepdaughters.
When she returned, it was with a bang. Tory Burch was a huge success, and today Tory works to help other women see the same returns on their dreams with the Tory Burch Foundation.
mentorship + microfinance | Tory arranges mentoring relationships through the Tory Burch Foundation. Gives women access to a confidence-building network to help make their dreams a reality. Gives women access to low-barrier capital through Accion, an international microfinancing nonprofit.
the Reva ballet flat | emblazoned with her signature double T logo, the flat—named for her mother—debuted in 2006 and has been an icon ever since
style | the iconic medallion logo adorns everything from her famous flats to the doors of her headquarters.
2004 | opened first store during New York Fashion Week—the doors hadn't even been installed! She'd worked for Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang + Loewe, but left when she had her 3rd child. Reentered the market as an entrepreneur, working out of her apartment. Oprah raved about Tory in 2005, giving her the signal boost to turn her into an icon.
2009 | launched Tory Burch Foundation to support female entrepreneurs and their families. Tory wanted to start a business so she could start a foundation. Spearheads business training.
2014 | began Elizabeth Street Capital partnership with Bank of America. Provides women with loans + mentoring programs.
from | to
fashion copywriter + publicist | billionaire designer + philanthropist
born on
june 17, 1966
born in
Valley Forge, Penn.
birth name
Tory Robinson
citizen of
United States
daughter of
Reva + Earl "Buddy" Robinson
~Tory named her iconic ballet flats after her mother~
sister of
Robert + James
Leonard Lopez
~housekeeper Angela's son, Tory calls him her brother [1]~
grew up in | lives in
Valley Forge, Penn. | New York
educated at | studied with
University of Pennsylvania | art history
loved studying
art + design
divorced from
William Macklowe [2]
{briefly, in 1993}
Chris Burch
{from 1996 to 2006}
~in 2012, the two waged a high-profile legal battle over intellectual property and Burch's new line, C. Wonder. They settled at the end of the year.~
mother of
3 sons | Henry, Nick + Sawyer
3 stepdaughters | Alexandra, Elizabeth + Louisa
advocate for | influenced by
female entrepreneurs | Eric Schmidt {Google} and older brother Robert Isen
in her spare time
travel + reading + family
tweets
@toryburch
Sources
[1][2] profile | An Empire of her Own | Vanity Fair | feb. 2007
collapse bio bits"'Ambitious'? I take that as a compliment. But I'm only ambitious about my career. Socially, all I need is my friends and family."
An Empire of her Own | february 2007
"[T]he world is a miraculous place, a place that is waiting to be explored."
Inspiring my Boys | may 2011
"I was told by all the men I met with that I could never bring up philanthropy and business in the same sentence. And I thought 'you know there's something really wrong about that'."
Tory Burch on her Foundation, Family, and Inspirations | march 2012
"I heard and tried not to listen to a lot of negativity. The noise and negativity were just the sidebar."
Billionaire Tory Burch's Seven Lessons for Entrepreneurs | may 2013
"People get caught up in labels; I try not to."
Self-made fashion billionaire Tory Burch still takes a hands-on approach | october 2013
"If I wasn't a good mom, I wouldn't be good at my business."
Self-made fashion billionaire Tory Burch still takes a hands-on approach | october 2013
"It's essential to inspire women for me, not only because I am a woman myself. If you support women, and get men to be part of the conversation, the economy is better and families will be better taken care of."
Self-made fashion billionaire Tory Burch still takes a hands-on approach | october 2013
"I want to be in the office until I am 80, with grey hair. It keeps me sane."
Self-made fashion billionaire Tory Burch still takes a hands-on approach | october 2013
"Buckle up, and know that it’s going to be a tremendous amount of work, but embrace it."
Billionaire Tory Burch's Seven Lessons for Entrepreneurs | october 2013
"Each one of us can be that voice for those who are finding their way."
Microfinancing Women | january 2014
"Having benefitted from the wisdom and insight of many mentors over the years, I understand how important the voice of experience can be."
Microfinancing Women | january 2014
"There were so many doubters and raised eyebrows. And really it was about confidence. I think if we can really instill that in women and have them believe in themselves, it's a great step."
CBS This Morning | january 2014
"Whether you’re entertaining a party of six or 100, put in the same amount of energy, detail and effort."
10 Things My Mom Taught Me | may 2014
"Sit back and spend time with yourself and think things through."
10 Things My Mom Taught Me | may 2014
"We may live in an age of instant messaging, instant gratification and Instagram, but there is no way to short circuit the path to success."
Babson College | may 2014
"There are many things you can do overnight. … But there is no such thing as an overnight success."
Babson College | may 2014
"Even if you’re not yet an entrepreneur, you can be entrepreneurial in everything you do."
Babson College | may 2014
"I didn't put on a dress until my senior prom, but fashion was clearly in my DNA."
Babson College | may 2014
"Being an entrepreneur isn't just a job title, and it isn't just about starting a company. It's a state of mind...It's about having the courage to give in to passion for an idea that makes your heart race."
Babson College | may 2014
"The one thing that every entrepreneurial journey has in common is that there are many, many steps on the road to success."
Tory On: Mentorship | august 2014
for further reading about Tory Burch:
curated with care by Meghan Miller Brawley {august 2014}
Reva flat | Tory Burch
Tory's signature Reva flat, named after her mother. Debuted in 2006 + has been an icon ever since. Prime target for counterfeiters—Tory has won 100s of millions in lawsuits, and has a team dedicated to fighting knock-offs.
Alms1119 | CC-A 3.0 | http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:REVA-Ballerina-Flat.jpg
appearance | Tribeca Film Festival Vanity Fair party | april 21, 2009
Tory Burch on the red carpet of the Tribeca Film Festival Vanity Fair party in 2009. The same year she launched the Tory Burch Foundation, a project that was part of the Tory Burch company business plan from the beginning. The foundation supports female entrepreneurs.
David Shankbone | CC-A 3.0
Backstage at NY Fashion Week | Tory Burch Fall/Winter 2012 Collection | feb. 14, 2012
Take a peek at all that's involved in a Fashion Week show, in this backstage montage of Tory Burch's Fall/Winter 2012 collection show. Tory opened her first store during 2004's Fashion Week, and had her first runway show in September 2011.
Neill McCutcheon | for Vogue | CC-BY-ND 3.0
initiative | Elizabeth Street Capital
It's harder for women in the U.S. to access affordable start-up loans than for women in the developing world. Enter Tory Burch and Elizabeth Street Capital, a partnership with Bank of America created to break down access barriers to capital. Launched February 2014. Money, advice + support ~ all part of Tory's mission.
Tory Burch Foundation