Tommy Hilfiger
PVH Corp. · United States
Tommy Hilfiger is an American premium lifestyle brand founded in New York in 1985 and owned since 2010 by PVH Corp., which also owns Calvin Klein. Its founder remains principal designer, and PVH reports global retail sales of about 9 billion US dollars for 2025, including licensees.
| Founded | 1985, New York |
|---|---|
| Founder | Tommy Hilfiger (principal designer) |
| Owner | PVH Corp. (since 2010) |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| PVH CEO | Stefan Larsson (since 2021) |
| Global retail sales | About 9 billion US dollars (2025, incl. licensees) |
| Website | tommy.com |
What is Tommy Hilfiger?
Tommy Hilfiger is a global fashion brand built on a classic American cool aesthetic: preppy sportswear, denim and the red, white and blue flag logo. It is one of the two core brands of PVH Corp., and the business is run from Amsterdam, where the company has its main international headquarters.
History
Tommy Hilfiger began in retail in 1968 with People's Place, a store in upstate New York, and launched his own label in New York in 1985, famously promoted with a Times Square billboard. With financial backing from Silas Chou from 1989, the company grew rapidly and listed in 1992. Its European business, launched in 1996, became a major growth driver.
Private equity firm Apax Partners acquired the company in 2006 for about 1.6 billion US dollars, and in 2010 PVH, then Phillips-Van Heusen, bought it for about 3 billion US dollars. Tommy Hilfiger himself remains principal designer and continues to guide the design process.
Products and positioning
The brand covers menswear, womenswear, childrenswear, denim (including Tommy Jeans), footwear and accessories. Fragrance, eyewear, watches and home products are produced by licensing partners. It is positioned in the premium segment, above mass market but below luxury.
Business model and distribution
- Wholesale: department stores and specialist retailers, especially in Europe
- Own stores: flagships and stores in major cities such as New York, Paris, London and Tokyo
- E-commerce: brand websites and digital marketplaces
- Licensing: fragrance, eyewear, watches and home
PVH's multi-year PVH+ Plan focuses on product, consumer engagement, a digitally led marketplace presence and a demand and data-driven operating model. In January 2015 Tommy Hilfiger opened a digital sales showroom at its headquarters to sell to wholesale buyers using large touch screens instead of physical samples.
Why it matters
Tommy Hilfiger is one of the world's largest premium lifestyle brands and a reference case for building a global business through European wholesale. Its digital showroom was an early example of digitising the wholesale selling process, an area now widespread across the industry.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Tommy Hilfiger?
Tommy Hilfiger has been owned by PVH Corp. since 2010, when PVH bought the company from Apax Partners for about 3 billion US dollars. PVH also owns Calvin Klein.
Is Tommy Hilfiger American or Dutch?
The brand is American: it was founded in New York in 1985 by designer Tommy Hilfiger. Its global business is headquartered in Amsterdam, which is why it is sometimes described as Dutch-based.
