Designer TOM FORD has laid down the gauntlet, and proclaimed his plans to become the biggest fashion name in the world with his eponymous label. He is aiming to be more influential than the likes of Chanel and Gucci within the next decade.

"If not number one, then number two. I could and will, certainly within the next 10 years, if not sooner."

''But I think that there are very few people in the world that could. I say that in the most humble way, meaning that I've had every advantage that anyone could possibly have."

''I had enough money to self-finance. I had a well-known name. I had 20 years of experience working for very big companies with no fear of scale.''

Tom Ford, who left his post as creative director at YSL to set up his own label in 2004, is realistic about his career and fully expects to have to make some items he won't be proud of in the name of business.

"By the time you get to number one or number two, you have to start to make a ton of stuff you don't like, and you sort of have to be making ugly $300 bags that are selling in China."

''The top three companies, let's say, in terms of volume - they are. You'd be really surprised at some of the frightening products that you have to generate if you want to go to that scale.''