Tommy Hilfiger
Founder and principal designer of Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Hilfiger is an American designer who founded his eponymous brand in New York in 1985 and remains its principal designer under the ownership of PVH. Built on red, white and blue Americana, the brand has become one of the world's largest premium lifestyle labels, with PVH citing around nine billion dollars in global retail sales in 2025.
| Role | Principal designer, Tommy Hilfiger |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1985, New York |
| Owner | PVH (since 2010) |
| Global retail sales | About 9 billion dollars (2025, PVH) |
| Born | 24 March 1951, Elmira, New York |
Who is Tommy Hilfiger?
Tommy Hilfiger was born in Elmira, New York, on 24 March 1951. He is the founder of the Tommy Hilfiger brand and, according to its owner PVH, remains its principal designer, providing guidance and inspiration for the design process. The brand describes itself as a pioneer of classic, American cool style.
Career
Hilfiger began in retail. In 1971 he opened a clothing store called People's Place in Elmira with 150 dollars of savings. After the store went bankrupt in 1977 he moved to New York City, where he founded the Tommy Hill company in 1979. The key steps in building his brand followed:
- 1985: Tommy Hilfiger Corporation founded with the backing of the Murjani Group
- 1992: the company went public
- 1995: CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year
- 1996: launch of womenswear
- 2006: sale of the company to Apax Partners
- 2010: acquisition of the brand by Phillips-Van Heusen, now PVH
He received the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
Influence on the fashion business
Hilfiger turned preppy American sportswear into a global brand by connecting it with music and popular culture. In the 1990s the label became closely associated with hip hop artists and musicians, which gave it a reach far beyond its traditional customer base. Its red, white and blue identity and accessible premium positioning made it a model for international lifestyle branding.
The brand continues to rely on celebrity and cultural partnerships. PVH's brand page highlights a Fall 2026 collaboration with American football player Travis Kelce, a fragrance with Camila Cabello and a denim campaign with Romeo Beckham.
Why it matters
Tommy Hilfiger is one of the two core brands of PVH alongside Calvin Klein, and its scale makes it a significant player in international wholesale and retail. Hilfiger's continuing role as principal designer, decades after selling the company, shows the value large groups place on a founder's identity in keeping a lifestyle brand coherent. His career, which began with a single small store in Elmira, also remains one of the best known examples of a designer building a global brand from a retail background, with a strong understanding of what customers actually buy.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Tommy Hilfiger?
Tommy Hilfiger is an American fashion designer who founded his brand in New York in 1985. He remains principal designer of Tommy Hilfiger, which is owned by PVH.
Who owns the Tommy Hilfiger brand?
The brand was sold to Apax Partners in 2006 and acquired by Phillips-Van Heusen, now PVH, in 2010. Tommy Hilfiger himself continues as principal designer.
