For over 25 years, Tommy Hilfiger has brought classic, cool, American apparel to consumers around the world. Under Hilfiger’s guidance, vision and leadership as principal designer, Tommy Hilfiger Group has become one of very few globally-recognized designer companies offering a wide range of American-inspired apparel and accessories.

Born in Elmira, New York, Hilfiger’s career in fashion began as a high school student in 1969 when he opened a small chain of stores called People’s Place with just $150. His goal was to bring fashion from New York City and London to upstate New York. Self-taught, he soon began designing for the boutiques he had always admired. In 1979, he moved to New York City to pursue a career as a full-time fashion designer. In New York, Hilfiger caught the eye of Mohan Murjani, a businessman who was looking to launch a line of men’s clothing and believed that Hilfiger’s entrepreneurial background gave him the unique ability to approach men’s fashion in a new way. With Murjani’s support, Hilfiger introduced his first signature collection in 1985 by modernizing button-down shirts, chinos, and other time-honored classics with updated fits and details. The relaxed, youthful attitude of his first designs has remained a distinctive hallmark throughout all of Hilfiger’s subsequent collections.

Hilfiger’s diverse achievements in business, retail and fashion have earned him a variety of distinguished awards: CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year in 1995; VH1’s “From the Catwalk to the Sidewalk” in 1995; Designer of the Year from Parsons School of Design in 1998, GQ magazine’s annual “Men of the Year” issue in 1998; GQ Germany’s International Designer of the Year in 2002; GQ Spain’s Designer of the Year in 2006; Hispanic Federation’ s Individual Achievement Award in 2007; Bambi Award for the fashion category and Women’s Wear Daily #1 Designer in their Annual ‘100’ List in 2008; UNESCO Support Award and Marie Claire’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009,and Pratt Institute’s Legends Award in 2010.

In 1995, Hilfiger launched The Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation to enrich the physical and intellectual well-being of youth with an emphasis on education and cultural programs that impact a diverse population. Hilfiger is also actively involved in the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King Jr., National Memorial Project Foundation and The Fresh Air Fund. In 2009, The Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation donated over $2 million to Millennium Promise, a non-profit organization to help end extreme poverty. In 2010, Millennium Promise named Tommy Hilfiger the first Millennium Promise MDG Global Leader.

Tommy Hilfiger has been a CFDA member since 1988.