Tommy Hilfiger

For 25 years, Tommy Hilfiger has brought classic, American, cool apparel to consumers around the world. His designs give time-honored classics a fresh look, and his discerning taste has provided the foundation for the growth of a global brand. Under Hilfiger’s guidance, vision and leadership as principal designer, the Tommy Hilfiger Group has become one of very few globally-recognized designer brands offering a wide range of American-inspired apparel and accessories. Born the second of nine children in Elmira, New York, Hilfiger’s career in fashion began as a high school student in 1969, when he opened a small chain of stores called People’s Place with just $150. His goal was to bring “cool big city styles” from New York to his friends in their small town in upstate New York. Hilfiger soon began designing for the boutiques he had always admired, and in 1979 he moved to New York City to pursue a career as a full-time fashion designer. There, he caught the eye of Mohan Murjani, a businessman who was looking to launch a line of men’s clothing and believed that Hilfiger’s entrepreneurial background gave him the unique ability to approach men’s fashion in a new way. With Murjani’s support, Hilfiger introduced his first signature collection in 1985 by modernizing button-down shirts, chinos, and other time-honored classics with updated fits and details. The relaxed, youthful attitude of his first designs has remained a distinctive hallmark throughout all of Hilfiger’s subsequent collections. As Hilfiger’s designs merged with popular culture, he began to extend his company’s distinct brand message across a variety of mediums and platforms, including the introduction of Tommy Hilfiger Collection, men’s tailored, Hilfiger Denim, men’s and women’s sportswear, childrenswear, bodywear, footwear, accessories and licensed products such as watches, jewelry, eyewear and fragrance. Tommy Hilfiger launched The Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation in 1995 to enrich the physical and intellectual well being of youth, with a major emphasis on education and cultural programs. In 2013, all Foundation activities around the world aligned under the global banner of Tommy Cares, to unite the brand’s philanthropic commitments, non-profit partnerships and employee engagement. Hilfiger is actively involved in supporting charitable causes including Autism Speaks and the MLK, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation. He has also served on the board of directors for The Fresh Air Fund, a New York-based group that has been sending underprivileged children to summer camp since 1877. On a global scale, Tommy Cares supports Save the Children, the World Wildlife Fund, War Child, Breast Health International (BHI), and Millennium Promise.