Portrait of Tom Ford

NEW YORK (Fotophile.com) — It’s not often a fashion designer at the top of his game walks away from it all. But then, it’s not often the industry finds a Tom Ford, either.

Since announcing last November that he would leave his position as creative director of Gucci Group and designer for Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, Ford took the industry by surprise. Now, Rizzoli has published an oversized volume highlighting the illustrious designer’s decade-long career set for release 1 November 2004.

The book features more than 300 photographs providing evidence of Ford’s stratospheric career as a cutting-edge designer and sharp businessman. In his decade-long role at the helm of Gucci Group, the company increased sales from $230 million in 1994 to nearly $3 billion in 2003 and becoming the world’s leading luxury brand, while setting fashion trends as well.

Photos are provided by some of the world’s top image-makers, including Richard AvedonMario TestinoHelmut Newton,Annie LeibovitzHerb Ritts and Terry Richardson, among others. The deluxe edition comes slipcased in white cabra leather and retails for $350; a black, cloth-bound version (pictured) runs $125.

The book boasts contributions from top editors Greydon Carter of Vanity Fair, Anna Wintour of Vogue and Bridget Foley of W.

Ford, a native of Austin, Texas, who was raised in Santa Fe, N.M., has won numerous design awards, including four from the Council of Fashion Designers of America and five VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards.