(Hilfiger Newsroom)
Biography
Tommy James Hilfiger, American fashion designer, was born in Elmira, New York, on March 24, 1951. As a high school student at Elmira Free Academy, he suffered from undiagnosed dyslexia causing to be distant from extra circular student activities. Unexpectedly, as teenager he began buying jeans in New York City that he remade and sold for a markup in Elmira (Bio.com). He opened a store that sold hippie products, such as bell-bottoms, record, and Incense, which he named ‘The People’s Place’ (Alford, Stegemeyer 180).
After his business fell into bankruptcy in 1977, he found himself to fall in love with his former employee, Susie Carona, which she became his wedded wife. He had four children before divorcing Susie after 20 years of marriage. During these hardships, multiple companies, such as Perry Ellis and Calvin Klein, hired Hilfiger, but he realized he didn’t want to work as a designer but instead he wanted to develop his own label.
As a gifted marketer and an intelligent businessman, an Indian Entrepreneur, Mohan Murjani, approached Hilfiger with an offering to work as a head designer for a men’s sportswear line in 1984. They have agreed in terms to work together and Murjani even allowed Hilfiger to design the label under his own name. With the help of Murjani, Tommy Hilfiger bought out Murjani’s company and formed an alliance with Hong Kong manufacture, Silas Chou (Fogg, Saunders 290). He proceeded to develop a women’s wear line on 1996, which extended into children’s wear, glasses, perfume, sportswear, and home décor the following year. It was then in 2004 where Tommy Hilfiger was labeled as a brand (Fogg, Saunders 290).
Critical Analysis
Tommy Hilfiger was born as the second of the nine children in a working class Irish- American family, but ironically he designed for customers who were predominately ‘middle class’ white males in the 1990s (Alford, Stegemeyer 180). During his time period as a designer, he hadn’t only gone through political problems but he had to deal with personal issues as well. He split with his wife of 20 years and soon after his professional career crumbled as well. His sales plunged as much as 75% leaving his company as a brand that wasn’t popular. With his ambitious personality, he took a deeper look at the company’s mistakes and rebooted his company once again. After it hit as a top seller at Macy’s, Hilfiger sold the brand to Phillps–Van Husen for $3 billion (Bio.com).
Although Hilfiger suffered through finical and Personal problems, Hilfiger successfully began the ‘ Prep Zeitgeist’, which celebrates the diverse essence of “Classic American Cool” (WWD). This had evolved into this zeitgeist accredited to Hip-Hop artist, Snoop Dogg (image below), who wore Hilfiger’s rugby shirt on Saturday Night Live (Vougepedia). Hilfiger’s line catches on with the hip-hop community as soon as this broadcast. Urbanized consumers wore his baggy jeans and oversized red, blue, and white Hilfiger logo. In 1995, he was assigned as the title for menswear designer awarded by CFDA (Vougepedia).
Tommy James Hilfiger, American fashion designer, was born in Elmira, New York, on March 24, 1951. As a high school student at Elmira Free Academy, he suffered from undiagnosed dyslexia causing to be distant from extra circular student activities. Unexpectedly, as teenager he began buying jeans in New York City that he remade and sold for a markup in Elmira (Bio.com). He opened a store that sold hippie products, such as bell-bottoms, record, and Incense, which he named ‘The People’s Place’ (Alford, Stegemeyer 180).
After his business fell into bankruptcy in 1977, he found himself to fall in love with his former employee, Susie Carona, which she became his wedded wife. He had four children before divorcing Susie after 20 years of marriage. During these hardships, multiple companies, such as Perry Ellis and Calvin Klein, hired Hilfiger, but he realized he didn’t want to work as a designer but instead he wanted to develop his own label.
As a gifted marketer and an intelligent businessman, an Indian Entrepreneur, Mohan Murjani, approached Hilfiger with an offering to work as a head designer for a men’s sportswear line in 1984. They have agreed in terms to work together and Murjani even allowed Hilfiger to design the label under his own name. With the help of Murjani, Tommy Hilfiger bought out Murjani’s company and formed an alliance with Hong Kong manufacture, Silas Chou (Fogg, Saunders 290). He proceeded to develop a women’s wear line on 1996, which extended into children’s wear, glasses, perfume, sportswear, and home décor the following year. It was then in 2004 where Tommy Hilfiger was labeled as a brand (Fogg, Saunders 290).
Critical Analysis
Tommy Hilfiger was born as the second of the nine children in a working class Irish- American family, but ironically he designed for customers who were predominately ‘middle class’ white males in the 1990s (Alford, Stegemeyer 180). During his time period as a designer, he hadn’t only gone through political problems but he had to deal with personal issues as well. He split with his wife of 20 years and soon after his professional career crumbled as well. His sales plunged as much as 75% leaving his company as a brand that wasn’t popular. With his ambitious personality, he took a deeper look at the company’s mistakes and rebooted his company once again. After it hit as a top seller at Macy’s, Hilfiger sold the brand to Phillps–Van Husen for $3 billion (Bio.com).
Although Hilfiger suffered through finical and Personal problems, Hilfiger successfully began the ‘ Prep Zeitgeist’, which celebrates the diverse essence of “Classic American Cool” (WWD). This had evolved into this zeitgeist accredited to Hip-Hop artist, Snoop Dogg (image below), who wore Hilfiger’s rugby shirt on Saturday Night Live (Vougepedia). Hilfiger’s line catches on with the hip-hop community as soon as this broadcast. Urbanized consumers wore his baggy jeans and oversized red, blue, and white Hilfiger logo. In 1995, he was assigned as the title for menswear designer awarded by CFDA (Vougepedia).
Future Analysis
Tommy Hilfiger is one of the 5 designers I was only familiar with. Although I did not know about the designer and company in detail, I chose this designer because of unique popularity. Many designers especially Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein inspired him to develop his designs. I realized these three companies sell merchandise that is somewhat similar. However, Hilfiger also was an inspiration to many designers as well with his unique tie with the preppy American look. Through his creative process as a designer, he worked on a series of marketing campaigns. He has influenced and developed long lasting relationships with a wide range of cultural influential and trendsetters (Hilfiger Newsroom).
I believe Hilfiger has created a long lasting silhouette that has been widely inspired by many upcoming designers. Comparing clothing between the brand Hilfiger and American Apparel, I found that American Apparel has taken Hilfiger’s concept of the preppy American look but adding a modern twist to it. I have also seen his garments in many retail stores. I, on the other hand, own a Tommy Hilfiger polo-tee and sweater, which I had purchased from an outlet store of Hilfiger.
Tommy Hilfiger is one of the 5 designers I was only familiar with. Although I did not know about the designer and company in detail, I chose this designer because of unique popularity. Many designers especially Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein inspired him to develop his designs. I realized these three companies sell merchandise that is somewhat similar. However, Hilfiger also was an inspiration to many designers as well with his unique tie with the preppy American look. Through his creative process as a designer, he worked on a series of marketing campaigns. He has influenced and developed long lasting relationships with a wide range of cultural influential and trendsetters (Hilfiger Newsroom).
I believe Hilfiger has created a long lasting silhouette that has been widely inspired by many upcoming designers. Comparing clothing between the brand Hilfiger and American Apparel, I found that American Apparel has taken Hilfiger’s concept of the preppy American look but adding a modern twist to it. I have also seen his garments in many retail stores. I, on the other hand, own a Tommy Hilfiger polo-tee and sweater, which I had purchased from an outlet store of Hilfiger.
(StyleSight)
WORKS CITED
Alford, Holly Price., and Anne Stegemeyer. "Tommy Hilfiger." Who's Who in Fashion. New York: Fairchild, 2010. 180. Print.
Fogg, Marnie, and Jonathan Saunders. Fashion Design Directory. Buffalo, NY: Firefly, 2011. Print.
"Q-Tip A Tribe Called Quest Wearing Tommy Hilfiger Polo 1994." DeFY New York. DeFY New York Sneakers Music Fashion Life, 25 Mar. 2012. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
"Stylesight." Fashion Trend Forecasting and Analysis. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
"Tommy Hilfiger." 2013. The Biography Channel website. Bio.com Dec 03 2013
"Tommy Hilfiger." Tommy Hilfiger Newsroom. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.
"TOMMY HILFIGER." YouTube. YouTube, 17 Sept. 2009. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.
"Tommy Hilfiger Inc." - People and Companies of Fashion, Beauty and Retail. WWD N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.
Alford, Holly Price., and Anne Stegemeyer. "Tommy Hilfiger." Who's Who in Fashion. New York: Fairchild, 2010. 180. Print.
Fogg, Marnie, and Jonathan Saunders. Fashion Design Directory. Buffalo, NY: Firefly, 2011. Print.
"Q-Tip A Tribe Called Quest Wearing Tommy Hilfiger Polo 1994." DeFY New York. DeFY New York Sneakers Music Fashion Life, 25 Mar. 2012. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
"Stylesight." Fashion Trend Forecasting and Analysis. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
"Tommy Hilfiger." 2013. The Biography Channel website. Bio.com Dec 03 2013
"Tommy Hilfiger." Tommy Hilfiger Newsroom. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.
"TOMMY HILFIGER." YouTube. YouTube, 17 Sept. 2009. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.
"Tommy Hilfiger Inc." - People and Companies of Fashion, Beauty and Retail. WWD N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.