Tommy Hilfiger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tommy Hilfiger
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Hilfiger in 1996
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| Born |
Thomas Jacob Hilfiger
March 24, 1951 Elmira, New York, U.S.
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| Occupation | Fashion designer |
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Tommy Hilfiger |
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| Children | 5, including Ricky Hil |
Thomas Jacob Hilfiger (born March 24, 1951) is a famous American fashion designer. He is the person who started the well-known company, Tommy Hilfiger Corporation.
Tommy Hilfiger began his journey in fashion in the 1970s. He co-founded a chain of clothing stores called People's Place. In the 1980s, he started designing his own line of "preppy" clothes for men. His company later grew to include women's clothing and many other items. These items included things like perfumes.
Hilfiger's designs are often inspired by music and different music styles. He has worked with many famous musicians. For example, in the 1990s, R&B artist Aaliyah was a spokesperson for his brand. In 2005, he even had a TV show called The Cut. On this show, people competed for a design job with him.
In 2006, Hilfiger sold his company for $1.6 billion. It was bought by a company called Apax Partners. Later, in 2010, it was sold again for $3 billion to Phillips-Van Heusen. Even after selling the company, Tommy Hilfiger remains its main designer. He leads the design teams and guides all the creative work. In 2012, he received a special award. It was the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award. This award came from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
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Early Life and Interests
Tommy Hilfiger was born on March 24, 1951, in Elmira, New York. He was the second of nine children in his family. His parents were both Catholic. His father, Richard, was a watchmaker. His mother, Virginia, was a nurse. Hilfiger has said his family came from Switzerland a long time ago.
He has described his childhood as very happy. He learned the importance of hard work from his parents. Tommy also has dyslexia, a learning difference. From a young age, he was interested in sports, fashion, and music. This interest ran in his family. His brother, Andy Hilfiger, became a musician and designer. Another brother, Billy Hilfiger, played guitar in bands.
Starting a Fashion Career
Tommy Hilfiger finished high school in 1969. His parents wanted him to go to college. For a short time, he attended a local college program.
People's Place: Early Stores (1970s-1983)
In the summer of 1969, Hilfiger worked in a clothing store. After that, he decided to use his savings of $150 to open his own store. He called it People's Place. The first store opened in 1971 in Elmira. It was more than just a clothing store. It also had a hair salon, a record shop, and even hosted rock concerts.
To fill his store, Hilfiger and a friend traveled to New York City. They bought clothes like bell-bottoms and leather jackets. But he wasn't fully happy with these clothes. So, he started drawing his own designs. He later wrote that designing made him happier than anything else. He knew then that designing would be his life's work.
Unfortunately, People's Place went out of business in 1977. After this, Hilfiger took classes to learn more about the business side of fashion. He then moved to New York City. He worked for different clothing brands. In 1979, he started his own company called Tommy Hill. One of his first clients was Jordache Jeans. As his company grew, he traveled to India. There, he learned even more about making clothes. He said it was the best design school in the world. In the early 1980s, he started two more companies.
Founding Tommy Hilfiger Inc. (1984-1990s)
In 1984, a businessman named Mohan Murjani approached Hilfiger. Murjani wanted to help Hilfiger create his own line of men's sportswear. Murjani invested money to help Hilfiger start his brand. Hilfiger also designed a clothing line for Coca-Cola.
Tommy Hilfiger wanted to create something new and different. He loved the "prep school look" and traditional Ivy League styles. He also liked the clothes worn by sailors and athletes. He wanted to take these classic styles and make them more relaxed and modern.
In 1985, he officially started the Tommy Hilfiger Corporation. The new clothing line launched with a big advertising campaign. They even put up a huge billboard in Times Square. In 1989, Hilfiger left Murjani International. Another investor, Silas Chou, then supported the brand. Former executives from Ralph Lauren joined the new company, Tommy Hilfiger, Inc.
The Tommy Hilfiger Corporation became a public company in 1992. This meant people could buy shares in the company. In 1995, Hilfiger was named Menswear Designer of the Year. This award came from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
After 1995, Tommy Hilfiger Inc. started selling women's clothing. By the end of 1997, Hilfiger opened his first store in Beverly Hills. A store in London followed in 1998. Hilfiger also published his first book, All American: A Style Book, in 1997.
Growing the Brand (1990s-2004)
Tommy Hilfiger has always been a big fan of rock and roll. His clothing collections often show influences from music styles. His clothes are also promoted through the music industry. In 1993, Hilfiger sponsored a tour for musician Pete Townshend. He also sponsored tours for other artists like Sheryl Crow, Britney Spears, and Lenny Kravitz.
By the mid-1990s, Hilfiger's clothes were popular with both the "preppy" crowd and in hip hop fashion. In 1997, R&B star Aaliyah became a well-known spokesperson for Tommy Hilfiger.
Tommy Hilfiger even made a small appearance in the movie Zoolander in 2001. From 2002 to 2006, the company had the naming rights to a music venue. It was called the Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theatre. In the early 2000s, Hilfiger worked to make the brand more exclusive. He made a deal to sell his best-selling lines only at Macy's stores.
The Tommy Hilfiger Corporation continued to work with musicians. They focused on fragrances (perfumes) as well as clothes. In 2003, Tommy Hilfiger bought Sweetface Fashion, which owned the J.Lo by Jennifer Lopez clothing line. In 2004, a perfume called True Star was released. It featured Beyoncé as its model. By 2004, the Tommy Hilfiger Corporation had about $1.8 billion in sales. It also had 5,400 employees.
Media and Company Sale (2005-2011)
In 2005, a CBS reality show called The Cut aired. Sixteen contestants competed for a design job with Tommy Hilfiger. They also wanted their own fashion line under his brand. The show was similar to The Apprentice. Tommy Hilfiger chose Chris Cortez as the winner.
In December 2005, Tommy Hilfiger sold his clothing brand. He sold it for $1.6 billion to Apax Partners. This deal was completed in May 2006. In 2008, Hilfiger co-hosted a TV show called Tommy Hilfiger Presents Ironic Iconic America. It looked at how pop culture has shaped American styles. In 2009, Hilfiger was a guest judge on Project Runway. He also presented an award at the 2010 World Music Awards.
In March 2010, Phillips-Van Heusen bought the Tommy Hilfiger brand from Apax Partners for $3 billion. The Tommy Hilfiger company launched an ad campaign called "Meet The Hilfigers" in August 2010. In 2011, Hilfiger planned to buy a large building in New York City. He wanted to turn it into his first hotel with luxury apartments. However, he later decided not to go through with the project. In 2012, he was a guest judge on Project Runway: All Stars. He also worked as a fashion consultant on American Idol.
Recent Years and Memoir (2012-2016)
In 2012, Tommy Hilfiger helped create the Marc Anthony Collection. He convinced singer Marc Anthony that a clothing line was a good idea. Also in 2012, Hilfiger received the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award. This was from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The brand's global sales were $6.4 billion in 2013 and $6.7 billion in 2014.
Tommy Hilfiger continues to be the main designer for his company. He leads the design teams and oversees all the creative work. In 2016, he worked with model Gigi Hadid on a clothing collection called TommyXGigi. In February 2017, the brand held its fashion show in Los Angeles. This was the first time it wasn't part of New York Fashion Week.
In January 2015, Hilfiger announced he was writing his life story. The book was written over a year. Hilfiger said he wanted to share what goes on behind the scenes in the fashion industry. His memoir, American Dreamer: My Life in Fashion & Business, was published in November 2016. It covers his childhood, his early business ventures, and his life in fashion. The book appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List in December 2016.
Charity Work
In 1995, Hilfiger started The Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation. This organization focuses on health, education, and cultural programs. It helps charities that support young people in America who are facing challenges. In 1998, Hilfiger was a sponsor for LIFEbeat. This charity helps fight AIDS in the music industry.
He is also involved in other charities. These include Autism Speaks and the MLK, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation. He has served on the board of directors for The Fresh Air Fund. This group helps underprivileged children attend summer camp in New York. In 1999, one of their camp programs was renamed Camp Tommy in his honor.
Since 2008, Hilfiger has designed special handbags. These handbags support Breast Health International (BHI). BHI is an organization that works to find a cure for breast cancer. A part of the money from handbag sales goes to BHI's Fund For Living program. Famous people are chosen to promote these handbags each season. In 2013, models Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell modeled the BHI bag.
Millennium Promise is a non-profit organization. It works to end extreme poverty, hunger, and preventable diseases. Hilfiger is a Millennium Promise MDG Global Leader. In 2009, he promised to donate $2 million over five years to Millennium Promise. This money went to help a city in Uganda. It aimed to improve access to clean water, education, and farming for residents.
In 2012, all of The Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation's charity work was renamed Tommy Cares. This is a bigger global effort. It brings together the brand's partnerships, donations, and employee involvement. Tommy Cares supports organizations like Save the Children, the World Wildlife Fund, and War Child. Hilfiger and his wife are on the board of Autism Speaks. Through this organization, Hilfiger sponsored the Golden Door Film Festival in 2014.
Hilfiger has often said that being inclusive and allowing self-expression are important to his brand. In 2016, he also stated that any designer should be proud to dress Melania Trump.
Awards and Recognition
Tommy Hilfiger has received many awards and recognitions for his work:
- 1995: Council of Fashion Designers of America – Menswear Designer of the Year
- 1996: American Academy of Achievement – Golden Plate Award
- 1997: FiFi Awards – Men's Fragrance of the Year – Luxe, for the fragrance "Tommy"
- 1998: Parsons School of Design – Designer of the Year Award
- 1998: GQ Magazine – Designer of the Year
- 2002: GQ Germany – International Designer of the Year
- 2006: GQ Spain – Designer of the Year
- 2006: Harvard Foundation – Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian of the Year
- 2007: Hispanic Federation – Individual Achievement Award
- 2009: UNESCO – UNESCO Support Award, for his charity work
- 2009: Marie Claire Magazine – Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2010: Pratt Institute – Legends Award
- 2012: Council of Fashion Designers of America – Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2015: Race To Erase MS – honored for his work to find a cure for MS
Style and Influence
Tommy Hilfiger's early designs were inspired by the fashion of the 1960s. Since the 1980s, his designs usually draw from classic American "preppy" styles. His first clothing lines for the Tommy Hilfiger Corporation were made for young men. They wanted designer clothes that were stylish but also comfortable. Tommy Hilfiger became one of the most important brands in 1990s sportswear. Other popular brands at the time included Polo Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. These companies created unique clothes that were easy to wear and mix and match.
Hip hop fashion also started to include the Hilfiger brand in the 1990s. When Snoop Dogg wore a Hilfiger sweatshirt on Saturday Night Live, it sold out quickly. Hilfiger also welcomed the hip hop market. Rappers like Puffy and Coolio walked in his fashion shows. Specific items, like Tommy Hilfiger carpenter jeans, became very popular. They often had the brand's logo on them.
Hilfiger continues to have many different fashion lines. Some focus on everyday "casual" clothes. Others create special, high-fashion designs. Besides preppy styles, Hilfiger has always been influenced by many American icons. These include Grace Kelly, James Dean, and Andy Warhol. Many of his designs also take inspiration from hard rock and pop music.
Personal Life
In 1976, Tommy Hilfiger met Susan Cirona. They got married in 1980. They had four children together: one son and three daughters. In 2003, his daughter Ally was on an MTV reality show called Rich Girls. His son, Richard, is a rapper and musician. Tommy and Susan divorced in 2000.
On December 12, 2008, he married Dee Ocleppo. They had a son in 2009.
Books by Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Hilfiger has written or co-written several books:
- 1997: All-American
- 2000: Rock Style: A Book of Rock, Hip-Hop, R&B, Punk, Funk and the Fashions That Give Looks to Those Sounds
- 2003: New England Style
- 2004: New England: Icons, Influences and Inspirations from the American Northeast
- 2007: Grace Kelly: A Life In Pictures (Hilfiger wrote the foreword)
- 2009: Fashion Etcetera: Tommy Hilfiger Special Edition (Hilfiger wrote the foreword)
- 2010: Tommy Hilfiger
- 2011: Iconic America: A Roller Coaster Ride Through the Eye-Popping Panorama of American Pop Culture
- 2016: American Dreamer: My Life in Fashion & Business
Film and TV Appearances
Tommy Hilfiger has appeared in various films and TV shows:
- 1994: Frasier (voice role)
- 2001: Zoolander (cameo as himself)
- 2005: The Cut (main judge)
- 2008: Tommy Hilfiger Presents Ironic Iconic America (co-host)
- 2009: Project Runway (guest judge)
- 2012: Project Runway: All Stars (guest judge)
- 2012: American Idol (fashion consultant)
- 2016: Zoolander 2 (cameo as himself)
- 2020: Next In Fashion (guest judge)
Images for kids
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World War II veterans with Tommy Hilfiger during a film screening in 2005
See also
In Spanish: Tommy Hilfiger para niños
