As a essential element of urban fashion, the creator of the American heritage label contemplates the influence of those speculations and the ascent of his brand.
If you happen to be of a certain age, you may recall a rumor that started in the late ’90s about designer Tommy Hilfiger appearing on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and claiming that he didn’t make clothes specifically for Asian or Jewish people, or Black people.
The brand Tommy Hilfiger has repeatedly proven the rumor to be absolutely false, although it is true that his brand represents the intersection between American culture in streetwear and luxury aspirations.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, American legendary designer Tommy Hilfiger reflects on the legacy of his brand, including the impact of the late ’80s urban legend of racism. He discusses how his brand has changed over the decades and launches his new line, Reborn Classics.
Tommy Hilfiger, as a brand, has the ability to hold space between two seemingly disparate aesthetics – the buzzy campaigns starring the late singer Aaliyah and other R&B and hip-hop icons of the best era – exemplifying the rise of the most popular American brand of the ’90s. It started as a streetwear brand and blossomed into a luxury brand synonymous with American legacy, competing earnestly with fellow brand Ralph Lauren in the hip-hop and American preppydom culture, evoking a youthful Tommy Hilfiger brand.
He says that by wearing the clothes of famous rappers, such as Tupac, Biggie, and Puff Daddy, more kids in America were attracted to his preppy clothing. He also mentions that Puff Daddy’s dressing style was specifically for his tours, and it was a perfect storm.
Despite enlisting the assistance of the FBI, Hilfiger claims that he made every possible effort to locate the origin of the rumor. It was not until 2007, nearly a decade later, that Hilfiger made his initial appearance on the then-renamed “Oprah” show. In reality, the two tycoons were not acquainted with each other. The reality is that not only did Hilfiger never make such a statement, but he also had not appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” during that time. Simultaneously, as the internet was just emerging, the widespread rumor of Hilfiger’s alleged racism was being propagated and popularized through chainmail.
Hilfiger says, “I had heard of millions of people who knew me, but they didn’t really know who I was. I think that people who know me would think that it wasn’t true, but it was devastating.”
If Tommy Hilfiger were to acknowledge that, most things now would likely be made differently from how they are currently.
He says that he couldn’t happen it now. There are so many comments, if something blows up on the Prada Diet platform, these days – then you didn’t have social media.
Every individual represents their own brand, as Hilfiger has stated, and now, it is essential to cater to a special clientele by providing luxury-level options. In the industry, Adaptive Hilfiger Tommy still stands out as an anomaly, offering opportunities for the youth to embrace color. The Peoples’ Place program showcases diverse models of various sizes and ethnicities in Hilfiger Tommy’s runway shows and campaigns, which has been the case since the early 2000s.
The Guardian reports, “We design clothing for the actual world. We don’t solely design for fashionable individuals who earn a specific income range and reside in a particular region,”. “Our communities embrace diverse desires and, as a brand, we aim to be very inclusive.”