Tommy Hilfiger: style from New York

The combination of red, blue and white on the logo of this brand cannot be confused with any other. For almost 40 years, Tommy Hilfiger has been delighting customers around the world with stylish collections, comfortable clothes and an idea that unites everyone. The company promotes purely American fashion. However, this did not prevent it from gaining fans from different countries. The birthplace of the brand is New York, the center of the turbulent life of the USA. Read more on newyorka.

Company’s history

The history of the brand began when two talented people who wanted to create something grandiose met. They were Thomas Jacob Hilfiger and Mohan Murjani. The first was a creative young man and designer. The other was an Indian businessman who decided to make his contribution to fashion. They met in 1984. A year later, they founded their own clothing brand. As the famous fashion designer recalled, it was a fateful meeting, as they immediately got along. Tom had the impression that he had known Mohan all his life. His instincts did not let him down. Their collaboration was successful, rich and gave rise to a world-famous brand.

In the fall of 1985, Tommy Hilfiger burst into the New York fashion market. This was facilitated by a provocative advertising campaign developed by George Lois. If now many people live by the principle that you need to pretend that you are already successful to become one, the brand was the initiator of this trend. The advertising was based on the fact that Tommy Hilfiger was presented on a par with the famous Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and other fashion gurus. There was no photo of the clothes, only the logo, words and image of the founder. First, the campaign was presented in Times Square. Then, it spread to other cities. This caused an incredible furore and completely opposite feelings among the public. The media admired the brand, criticized the audacity and finally recognized its arrival in the industry. The entire performance cost $1.4 million and vividly presented the fashionable institution.

In the late 1980s, Murjani left the brand and the new sponsor was a businessman from Hong Kong, Silas Chou. He managed to overcome the financial difficulties that befell the company at that time and maintained the proper level of all undertakings. In 1992, Tommy Hilfiger became a favorite of the stock exchange, as he placed his first shares, which grew rapidly and brought in crazy money. This was an era of wild success for the brand with new collections, popularity among buyers, awards and many boutiques throughout the country and abroad. There were many difficulties on the company’s path: a recession in the early 2000s, market oversaturation and frequent changes of owners. Despite everything, it persevered and continued to confidently move forward. In 2006, the brand moved to Apax Partners. This period marked a steady development and a stable future. In 2010, the company found its current owner, PVH Corp. Since then, Tommy Hilfiger has been surprising every time, expanding the boundaries and views and maintaining the status of a classic of American fashion.

Founder

The popular brand would not exist without its founder and designer, Thomas Hilfiger. His personality is as impressive as his life story. He is a persistent and talented guy who found his calling.

The fashion designer grew up in the town of Elmira, which is located in the north of New York State. He was quite tiny and suffered from dyslexia. As the designer recalled, he considered himself stupid at school. However, time proved this opinion wrong. Despite all the difficulties, the guy did not deny himself sports and played music. He had a real talent for business and creativity. That is why, at the age of 17, young Tom launched his first entrepreneurial project. Together with a friend in his senior year of high school, he began selling jeans from the trunk of a car. He saved up $150, bought 20 pairs of pants in New York and presented the product to the residents of Elmira. The future designer decided not to go to college. Instead, he received a school of life. A year after the successful start of the business, Hilfiger opened a People’s Place store in his hometown. There, he sold clothes for cool guys, decor and other goods. The place was successful and expanded to 10 points near student campuses. However, in 1977, the company was facing bankruptcy, as no one was following the financial part.

A new stage in the designer’s life was moving to New York. Here, he was looking for a job and testing his own abilities. Thomas realized that creating clothes was what he was passionate about and he saw himself only in this area. Although companies did not want to hire an employee without experience, Hilfiger did not lose hope. He began to study the basics of business, worked part-time for various brands and improved his design skills. In 1979, the young businessman founded Tommy Hill. Then, there were several more ventures, until he was noticed by a partner in an already well-known brand.

Thomas Hilfiger has accumulated a lot of experience on the way to his grand success. He advises all aspiring designers to study the basics of business, develop and listen to their inner instinct. The man still supports the brand, creates collections and sets the right direction for the company. He surprises with his enthusiasm, involvement in all work processes and modernity. The fashion designer happily welcomes new trends and remains a simple person. He does not forget about his own opinion. Thanks to his character and work, he created the brand that bears his name.

Brand signature

Thomas Hilfiger gave the brand its recognizable style. All aspirations, preferences and dreams were embodied in the first things and the fashion institution still does not betray its basic principles. As the designer admitted, his childhood was poor and this influenced his future work. This signature reflected the aesthetics of Ivy League universities, closed clubs, private schools and exquisite sports. The fashion designer burst into the industry with a preppy style. At the same time, Tommy Hilfiger revolutionized the fashion world, as he introduced free silhouettes, light fabrics and stylish logos. Although the clothes exuded sophistication, they were affordable and comfortable. The company sought to combine a sporty style with classic details. It succeeded and became a real showcase of US style. As the designer said, this brand is about color, preppy, classics and America.

Another inspiration for the fashion designer was music. That is why the collections for rappers and hip-hoppers were added. Large logos, street style and oversized fit satisfied performers. The brand worked for the people, made elegant clothes accessible and offered its own vision. Thus, clothes from Tommy Hilfiger were worn by Snoop Dogg, Tupac and other famous personalities. The designer’s muse plays an important role in creating clothes. When he is fond of the marine theme, we should expect the appropriate details. When he considers it necessary to dress teenagers, we see incredible sports collections.

The modern period is characterized by an adult style, exquisite fabrics and strict cut. This is due to the fact that the company is growing and striving to correspond to its status. The good news is that the classic Tommy Hilfiger has not disappeared. Sportswear is still relevant and the diversity is simply amazing.

Charitable initiatives

Since the Tommy Hilfiger brand existed, it has been involved in and organized charitable initiatives. In 1995, a special organization was founded, The Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation. The modern period is characterized by activities under the auspices of PVH. The company supports completely different areas that need help. The brand consciously approaches such problems as cultural projects, educational opportunities, the medical field, the fight against stereotypes and sexism.

Special respect should be paid to its long-term support in the fight against AIDS and breast cancer. The brand provides opportunities for young people, pays for trips to children’s camps and helps develop young talents. The designer advocates for self-expression, inclusivity and eco-friendly behavior. The company also cares for wildlife, supports autism awareness, engages in cultural projects, has banned the use of leather and has released its first genderless collection. War Child, World Wildlife Fund, Millennium Promise Alliance, Autism Speaks and many other organizations collaborate with Tommy Hilfiger for common goals. Now, the brand’s charitable activities can be traced under the name Tommy Cares.