We Visit Tommy Hilfiger In His Showroom: "Wear What You Really Like"

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

Legendary American designer Tommy Hilfiger opens the doors of his showroom in New York to discuss his new spring / summer 2015 collection inspired by the stars of Rock & Roll.

What was the inspiration for this collection?

Music and musicians. Actually, in 1969 when I started my business it was music and musicians that inspired me. It is part of my DNA. We are known for our fun “preppy” style and perhaps casual or sporty [but] this collection is inspired by music.

Did he play an instrument?

I didn't play music, I just wanted to look like rock stars. They had a great influence on my life. I made a book in the nineties called "Rock Style" where the reader is shown the style of rock stars through the years.

It was his style icons, you could say …

They greatly influenced fashion and fashion design. So I was never embarrassed to say that all these musicians inspired me because they had great style. And also you can no longer find these clothes in stores today. You find her but they look like …

Costumes…

Yes. [This is] a collection of authentic clothing that could have been worn in the 1960s or 1970s but made in a way that was relevant to today's young woman who may fancy going to a festival in the summer.

Each theme in their collection is drastically different and for each of them a special environment is created to present it. Is it important to create that world?

Yes, complete the circle. I have the clothes, the music, the staging, the authenticity and that inspires the models to feel different.

What is the key, after all these years, to create the highest level clothing that works for women and sells?

I think it is important that it is affordable, accessible, that it fits you well, that the quality is the best but there has to be a meaning behind it. It can't be just clothes because many people make clothes. We want ours to be special. We want the clothes that we are presenting in the new season to be exciting and stand out.

What is the Tommy Hilfiger woman like today?

Well, we have a very large audience, so she is a young woman who is “on the go”, has traveled a lot, is aware of what is happening and loves music, fashion, entertainment, the world of pop culture. But that doesn't mean we don't dress up her mom and maybe her little sister.

How do you keep all those women in mind?

We make sure our lines fit our broad demographics, but the catwalk collection, called the Hilfiger Collection, is more for the customer who appreciates fashion.

The best style advice for a woman …

Put on what you really like and feel sure of yourself.

What is the most important lesson you have learned?

Think about the customer and what they really want. Don't think about what you want to do. Think about what the customer wants and needs, and then do what you want to do for them.