Inside The Life And Career Of Tommy Hilfiger: A Fashion Icon

Tommy Hilfiger is a name synonymous with American fashion, famous for his preppy styles that have transcended generations. His brand, marked by the iconic red, white, and blue logo, represents a blend of classic American cool and modern trends. Hilfiger's journey from a small-town boy in Elmira, New York, to a global fashion mogul is both inspiring and instructive, illustrating the power of perseverance, creativity, and bold marketing strategies.

Born on March 24, 1951, Tommy Hilfiger grew up in a working-class Irish-American family. He was the second of nine children, which instilled in him a strong work ethic from a young age. Despite facing challenges such as undiagnosed dyslexia during school, Hilfiger's entrepreneurial spirit emerged early on, leading him to explore various avenues within the fashion industry.

His initial forays into business included opening a store called The People's Place, which sold hippie-inspired clothing and accessories. Although he faced setbacks, including bankruptcy, Hilfiger’s unwavering passion for design eventually caught the attention of major players in the industry. This would set the stage for his eventual breakthrough in the 1980s, when he launched his namesake brand, changing the landscape of American fashion.

Table of Contents

• Who Is Tommy Hilfiger?
• Early Life
• First Entrepreneurial Venture
• Commercial Success
• Hard Times
• Personal Life and Career Rebound
• Quick Facts

Who Is Tommy Hilfiger?

Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger has built his brand, using his signature red, white and blue tag, which has become popular among the upper class and the casual buyer. Before making his immensely popular products, he opened several stores in the 1970s. It wasn’t until 1984, when he was approached to design a men’s sportswear line with his name, that he took off into the stratosphere of fame and fashion.

Early Life

Tommy Hilfiger was born on March 24, 1951, in Elmira, New York, the second of nine children in a working-class Irish-American family. His mother, Virginia, worked as a nurse, while dad Richard made watches at a local jewelry store. Tommy Hilfiger attended Elmira Free Academy in high school, where he was neither a star athlete (he was so small, he had to sneak 15-pound weights in his pockets to get on the football team) nor a star student (he suffered from undiagnosed dyslexia).

First Entrepreneurial Venture

Hilfiger's entrepreneurial gifts were evident from a young age. As a teenager, he began buying jeans in New York City that he remade and sold for a markup in Elmira. When he was 18, he opened a store called The People's Place in Elmira that sold hippie supplies like bell-bottoms, incense, and records. Wildly successful at first, Hilfiger soon had a chain of stores and a six-figure income. However, a downturn in the economy hit his business hard, and he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1977.

Commercial Success

In 1984, Hilfiger was approached by Indian entrepreneur Mohan Murjani, who was looking for a designer to head a men’s sportswear line. Murjani allowed Hilfiger to design the label under his own name, sealing the deal. The pair announced Hilfiger’s arrival onto the scene with a blitz marketing campaign that included a bold billboard in New York City’s Times Square announcing Hilfiger as the next big thing in American fashion. “I think I am the next great American designer,” Hilfiger told a reporter in 1986. “The next Ralph Lauren or Calvin Klein.”

Hard Times

In 2000, Hilfiger split with his wife of 20 years, with whom he had four children. His professional fortunes crumbled as well. His clothes fell off in popularity among the hip-hop set, and sales plunged by as much as 75 percent. Worse than bad sales, the Tommy Hilfiger brand wasn’t cool anymore. “The large logos and the big red, white, and blue theme became ubiquitous,” Hilfiger said. “It got to the point where the urban kids didn’t want to wear it and the preppy kids didn’t want to wear it.”

Personal Life and Career Rebound

Hilfiger married his second wife, Dee Ocleppo, in December 2008, and the couple welcomed son Sebastian in August 2009. In May 2010, his once-again-profitable company sold for a whopping $3 billion to the clothing conglomerate Phillips-Van Heusen. He received the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Geoffrey Beane Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.

Quick Facts