Hilfiger, Tommy

(1952- )

   Born in Elmira, New York, his entry into the fashion industry was through his retail store in 1969. He showed his first collection in 1984, which was initially launched by Murjani International and later backed by Noval enterprises. Best known as the designer whose marketing took center stage instead of design, Hilfiger is a lifestyle designer. He has numerous licensing agreements that promote womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, home décor, fragrances, and accessories. Recognizing the potential of the influence of music, especially hip-hop, Hilfiger enlisted rappers and musicians such as the Rolling Stones, Britney Spears, Jewel, and Lenny Kravitz to promote his product. In 1995, Hilfiger was the recipient of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Award as Menswear Designer of the Year. In 2005, he produced a reality TV show called The Cut and bought the trademark to the Karl Lagerfeld portfolio. In 2006, Tommy Hilfiger Corp was sold to Apex Partners. Hilfiger signed a lifetime contract and plans to remain as principal designer and chairman of the strategy and design board.