Fashion career profile
Todd Snyder
Todd Snyder is an American menswear designer and entrepreneur from Ames, Iowa. He studied textile and clothing design at Iowa State University and learned tailoring at the Des Moines haberdashery Badowers before building a long New York career. His corporate design work included Polo Ralph Lauren, Gap and J.Crew; at J.Crew he served as senior vice president of menswear and helped reshape the men’s offer through styling, formalwear and collaborations. Snyder also helped his family launch the collegiate apparel line Tailgate in the 1990s. He launched his namesake menswear collection for Fall 2011, drawing on tailoring, military clothing and American sportswear. American Eagle Outfitters acquired both Todd Snyder and Tailgate in 2015, an ownership change that should not be mistaken for a new design appointment. Snyder was a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist, received repeated CFDA recognition and was named Menswear Designer of the Year by WWD in 2024. This record separates his corporate appointments from his own label and the family-built Tailgate line.
- Role
- Founder & Designer, Todd Snyder
- Nationality
- American
- Age
- 57
- Ralph Lauren Wins American Menswear Designer of the Year at 2026 CFDA AwardsHypebeast Fashion · 2026-11-03
- Todd Snyder opens second Texas store in AustinFashionNetwork · 2026-09-18
- Todd Snyder SS27 Trades Polish for Sun-Faded Suede and Washed SilkHypebeast Fashion · 2026-09-15
- Education: Textile and Clothing Design, Iowa State UniversityCFDA records Snyder’s studies and his training in cutting and sewing at Badowers. · CFDA
- Menswear role: Designed menswear at Polo Ralph LaurenCFDA identifies this as one of Snyder’s corporate design appointments; it does not publish exact dates. · CFDA
- Menswear leadership: Director of Menswear, GapCFDA records the position; the source does not specify exact dates. · CFDA
- Menswear leadership: Senior Vice President of Menswear, J.CrewCFDA records the title and work; GQ reported that Snyder left J.Crew in 2008 after four years. · CFDA / GQ
- Early venture: Helped launch Tailgate with family in the 1990sGQ describes Tailgate as a family side project that grew alongside Snyder’s corporate career; CFDA records its 2015 acquisition. · GQ / CFDA
- House founded: Todd Snyder menswear collection launched for Fall 2011CFDA dates the debut and describes the label’s design influences. · CFDA
- 2008 — Leaves J.Crew after four yearsGQ dates Snyder’s departure from J.Crew to 2008; CFDA identifies his title as senior vice president of menswear.
- 2011 — Launches his namesake menswear collectionThe Fall 2011 collection begins Snyder’s independent label.
- 2015 — American Eagle acquires Todd Snyder and TailgateThe ownership change covers both businesses and does not itself establish a new role for Snyder.
- 2024 — Named WWD Menswear Designer of the YearThe award is recorded in Snyder’s official biography.