Thomas Jacob Hilfiger (born on March 24, 1951 in Elmira, NY, USA) is an American fashion designer and the founder of Tommy Hilfiger brand.
His father was a watch repairman and his mother was a nurse in a hospital. Thomas grew up in a large family, being the second oldest among nine children who were not spoiled with toys and goodies. He had congenital dyslexia, which made him unsociable as a child. However, he overcame this flaw in high school and became more social.
After graduating from high school, at the age of 17, Thomas decided to study engineering at his parents’ insistence. However, he soon realized that he wanted to pursue his own path and dropped out of school. With $150 in savings, he bought 20 pairs of Landlubber jeans and opened a small shop called Place for People.
By the early 1970s, Place for People had 7 boutiques in New York City. In 1977, Hilfiger faced bankruptcy but remained determined to stay in the clothing business. He enrolled in trade management courses to gain more knowledge and skills.
In 1985, at the age of 33, Tommy Hilfiger established his own brand. This marked the beginning of his successful career in the fashion industry. His debut collection, featuring polo shirts, jackets, and trousers, was designed in the preppy style that appealed to various segments of the population in the mid-1980s. With a $3 million investment in advertising, Hilfiger made his mark in the clothing market the following year.
In 1992, Tommy Hilfiger released a collection of menswear and gained worldwide fame.
In 1996, he launched a line of perfumes, starting with a fragrance called “Tommy Girl” for women, featuring scents of jasmine, mint, and mandarin.
In 1997, Hilfiger opened his flagship boutique in Beverly Hills, offering not just clothes but also watches, backpacks, belts, and designer glasses.
In 2001, Tommy Hilfiger expanded his brand by launching a shoe line and opening a boutique in the historic center of Manhattan.
In 2006, sales declined and Tommy Hilfiger sold the company for $1.6 billion to Apax Partners. The company was later sold again in 2010 to Phillips-Van Heusen for $3 billion. Despite these changes, Tommy remains the principal designer of the brand, leading the design teams and overseeing the entire creative process.
