Tory Burch Appears on Forbes’ “World’s Most Powerful Women” List
On December 8, 2020, Forbes magazine released its “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women List,” with Tory Burch at number 88. Just sixteen years earlier, Tory Burch founded her fashion label Tory Burch LLC. When she launched the label in a retail store in Manhattan in February 2004, almost the entire inventory flew off the shelves within the first day. The demand for Tory Burch’s items only grew. As of 2023, there were over 300 Tory Burch stores, with the products also sold in over 3,000 department stores. Tory Burch’s preppy aesthetic extends to handbags, shoes, ready-to-wear apparel, accessories, household items, and jewelry.
Born in Pennsylvania on June 17, 1966, Burch grew up near Valley Forge National Historical Park. Burch is Jewish on her mother’s side. As a child Burch gravitated towards horseback riding and tennis; she describes her childhood self as being a tomboy. She is grateful to have attended an all-female school, which allowed her to gain confidence and sparked her passion for supporting women. Not having attended business or design school, Burch is a completely self-made businesswoman.
Burch has always been committed to supporting female entrepreneurs. Her company’s purpose is “to empower women and women entrepreneurs. Giving back and supporting other women was part of the plan when Tory started the company” (Tory Burch website). The Tory Burch Foundation, established in 2009, provides capital, education, and digital resources to support women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship.
From the streets of the flagship store locations in New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Rome, Tokyo, and Seoul, or adorned on the side of a stylish sneaker, luxurious handbag, or carefully constructed loafer, today many recognize the iconic Tory Burch double T shaped logo design.
Sources:
“About Us.” Tory Burch. Accessed February 5, 2023; https://www.toryburch.com/en-us/about-us/.
“Tory Burch on How She Built a Fashion Empire from the Ground up-Step into My Office-Glamour.” October 8, 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I8niXFJmag.
“Angela Merkel, Christine Lagarde and Kamala Harris Top Forbes' 100 Most Powerful Women List.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, December 10, 2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbespr/2020/12/08/angela-merkel-christine-lagarde-and-kamala-harris-top-forbes-100-most-powerful-women-list/?sh=4205c9491a5f.
“Tory Burch LLC.” Wikimedia , November 25, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tory_Burch_LLC#cite_note-perfectly-5.
