Tommy Hilfiger’s journey is the stuff of fashion legend. Raised in Elmira, New York, he opened his first store upstate with just $150 and rose to become one of the world’s most successful designers. His career is nothing short of inspiring.
Inspiration is also key to American Dreamer: My Life in Fashion & Business, Hilfiger’s candid autobiography recently published by Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House.
The designer credits Alina Cho, the fashion correspondent and Random House Editor-at-Large, as well as CFDA Chairwoman Diane von Furstenberg with encouraging him to open up and tell his story.
“Alina asked me if I would be interested in doing the book,” he recalled. “At first, I really didn’t think I was ready….perhaps one day, when I was much older. But then I thought my memory might not be as good. I asked myself, ‘If I were to write it, what would I do?’ I would put it in chronological order and be very transparent about my life. My children have heard bits and pieces, but they would know my entire story.
“At the time, I was also reading Diane’s [von Furstenberg’s] book,” he continued. “It was very inspiring because she was so transparent and honest.”
The writing process, with aid from Peter Knobler, gave Hilfiger a whole new perspective on his life and his accomplishments. Through his namesake fashion empire, Hilfiger started trends, discovered new talent, and always looked to fashion’s future — most recently embracing the see-now, buy-now concept as he did in September with the line he and supermodel Gigi Hadid created.
“Young designers might be able to take some branding and business advice and avoid some mistakes I made,” he said. “I started out at the bottom and had a lot of starts and stops. I could have given up many times but I persevered. I was fortunate enough to surround myself with great business partners.’
If there’s one decade he remembers with particular fondness, it’s the 1970s. “It was the time of a fashion and music revolution and a turning point in my life,” he explained. “I decided then that I was really going to be in this business, which was driven by my love of music and fashion.”
Asked if there were some parts of his personal journey that he was reluctant to disclose, Hilfiger admitted, “There are some personal things about my divorce and about my early childhood struggle with my dad. Some of it was painful, but if I were to do it, I had to be open and transparent. Diane really inspired me.”
Through the writing process, the designer also learned much about himself, foremost that he is not one to quit easily, especially in business. “I learned the word can’t is not in my vocabulary,” he said. “I want my children and readers to understand that, with a positive attitude, a dream, and a drive, you can become successful.”
