After 35 years as the resident ruler of all things preppy-chic, Tommy Hilfiger is still at the top of his elite fashion game. We caught up with the creative to get his take on Palm Beach style, sustainable innovation and inclusion in the industry.
As a new full-time South Florida resident, what excites you most about the Palm Beach market? I’ve always loved it in Palm Beach—the culture here is truly one of a kind. The classics-meets-tropics influence is visible in the food, art and fashion in the area, and it’s so fun to experience the fusions firsthand. The fashion scene here is chock-full of brilliant colors, patterns and textures. There’s always something exciting to look at!
How does the Tommy Hilfiger brand speak to Palm Beachers? Our brand DNA is a great match for Palm Beach because the residents here always have fun, fresh takes on iconic staples. In fact, we were so inspired by the amazing styles of South Floridians that our current spring line was created with the court sports and coastal prep of the region in mind.
Tell us about the recently launched People’s Place Program. How was it conceptualized? We launched the People’s Place Program out of recognition that progress is not happening fast enough to increase representation in fashion and creative industries for people of color. Tommy Hilfiger has always stood for inclusion and diversity, and we are strengthening that commitment. Our program is structured around three pillars: partnerships and representation; career support and industry access; and industry leadership.
How has it succeeded in making fashion more inclusive? We just launched partnerships with some amazing organizations that I’m very excited about. Last month, we sponsored the annual Digital Fashion Summit hosted by Harlem’s Fashion Row, a New York-based agency that champions the advancement of designers of color in the fashion industry. We are also working with them to identify various ways emerging talent can receive mentorship and networking opportunities through our company. We’re working with the Fashion and Race Database, an online platform that provides research on the underreported narrative of people of color in fashion, to fund and support a new research study that will highlight the influences of Black American culture in the history of American sportswear.
How do you champion sustainability and the circular fashion economy? Tommy Hilfiger has always championed environmental and social sustainability, and in 2020, we made a pledge to build on these commitments and create fashion that wastes nothing and welcomes all. One way we’re driving circularity is through Tommy for Life, a pioneering circular business model we recently launched in the Netherlands, which takes preowned Tommy Hilfiger and Tommy Jeans pieces to repair them or remix them into completely new styles. We have a lot of work to do to be fully circular by 2030, but we have some exciting work underway.
In 2020 you celebrated your 35th anniversary. Can you share some standout moments from the years? It’s amazing to be able to celebrate 35 years. There have been so many wonderful moments—launching my brand with the Hangman campaign in Times Square, receiving the CFDA’s Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award and having the flag be a globally recognized brand logo are some of my top highlights. What I’ve always been grateful for, though, is the opportunity to give back. I believe in leaving the world a better place than you found it, so being able to contribute to worthy causes is an honor and the best part of my success.
Photography by: Nick Garcia; Craig McDean
