Tommy Hilfiger was born in 1951, one of nine children in a rambunctious Catholic household in upstate New York. When he was 18, Tommy took all the money that he had in the world, $150, and started a small clothing retail operation. By marketing trendy urban jeans to kids in his hometown of Elmira, Tommy was able to turn a nifty profit. Several years later, he opened a store called People's Place, which grew into a regional operation with 10 stores. Tommy's affable manner and street sensibility allowed him to experiment with sportswear and tailored apparel to develop a unique style sense. In 1984, he opened an eponymous store, the Tommy Hilfiger Corporation. His relaxed, comfortable fitting clothes, characterized by classic polos, jeans, and causal button shirts, soon gained the attention of both celebrities and college kids. In 1994, urban rap artist Snoop Doggy Dog famously appeared on national television dressed in one of his rugby suits. Tommy Hilfiger's hubris is also legendary. In 1986, when his company was only two years old, Tommy launched a bombastic national advertising campaign, comparing him to the three major designers of the era. His self-confidence generated interest, and he was able to turn his relatively modest $25 million a year firm into a $400 million a year epic enterprise. Tommy Hilfiger's bright, crew oriented colors overlay preppy gear with youth and urban undertones. In 1995, Tommy Hilfiger received a number of awards, and Tommy himself was designated the 1995 Men's Wear Designer of the Year. In late 2005, Hilfiger announced that he was divesting from his own company, and he participated in a relatively successful CBS show based on Donald Trump's The Apprentice. Today, Tommy Hilfiger clothing is ubiquitous throughout the country and the world, and along with his trademark adult lines, he also produces very popular children's clothing. |
