T is for Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Hilfiger is synonymous with all-American style. With its striking red, white and blue logo, the Tommy Hilfiger brand is famous for reviving the Ivy League look back in the 90s and has continued to provide “all-American classics with a modern twist” into the millenium.
Born and raised in New York, Thomas Hilfiger grew up in an Irish Catholic family and began his journey into the world of fashion when he started working in retail straight out of high school.
Hilfiger would go to New York City to buy jeans and bell-bottom pants, which he customized and resold at a local downtown store, or sometimes even the boot of his car. He later opened his own clothing shop, The People's Place – but although the store was a hot spot for teenagers with frequent contests and live DJ appearances, there were often more people hanging out than shopping.
When Hilfiger was just 25 The People's Place went bankrupt after seven years of trading, but the hard lesson didn’t deter him from his passion for design. He soon moved to New York City, and although he was offered design assistant positions with designers such as Calvin Klein and was broke, he turned them down with greater plans in mind.In 1984 he founded the Tommy Hilfiger Corporation, which went public in 1992, introducing his signature menswear collection. Hilfiger took what started as men's jeans and sportswear, and turned it into a half-billion-dollar empire encompassing menswear, women's wear, children's wear, footwear, eyeglasses, fragrances, and home furnishings.
By 2004 the company had 5,400 employees and revenues in excess of $1.8 billion, and Hilfiger's casual approach to fashion helped place his label in a league of its own.
He describes his style as fresh, understated clothes for the young at heart, and says his greatest inspirations are Americana and rock 'n' roll.
Hilfiger’s clean-cut, simple designs have led to an empire that is considered one of the highest-ranked publicly traded clothing companies – but more importantly, a label built on carefree style, a youthful spirit, and confidence.
By Nikki Webber - Christchurch
