Brand Spotlight: Tommy Hilfiger
By SmartBuyGlasses Editorial Team

Tommy Hilfiger is the king of classic American cool with a modern edge. This premium brand blends the star power of celebrity with its down-to-earth spirit that has continued to sell for 30 years since the brand’s launch.
So why is it that everyone loves this iconic brand? To find out, let’s take a look at Tommy Hilfiger’s unique journey to fame and fortune.
Who is Tommy Hilfiger?
Tommy Hilfiger was born in 1951 in Elmira, New York. Born to a large family, he already showed a penchant for fashion at an early age. In fact, Hilfiger started to customise and sell bell-bottom jeans from the trunk of his car while still in school.
“The Peple’s Place” was the first Tommy Hilfiger business and it did very well. However, when he was 25, the business went bankrupt which, while disappointing, prompted Hilfiger to study commerce and learn how to run a profitable business.
Tommy Hilfiger in New York
In 1979, he moved to New York City to pursue his career in fashion design and worked design assistant positions in large fashion houses.
However, he soon realised he wanted something new and decided to instead start his own American fashion business. His first design team was called “Tommy Hill”, after his own name.
A few years later, his work caught the attention of Mohan Murjani, an Indian textile magnate who wanted to launch a men’s clothing line.
The Tommy Hilfiger brand is born
The first Hilfiger collection focused on modernising button-down shirts and chinos. It successfully blended preppy style with a cool and relaxed West Coast attitude, a combination which had never been seen before.
In 1985, the business rocketed to popular attention with the help of an advertising campaign designed in collaboration with George Lois.
The “hangman” billboard cleverly positioned Tommy Hilfiger alongside Ralph Lauren, Perry Ellis and Calvin Klein.

Two years later, the business had grown enough to leave the fold of Murjani International.
With the help of former Ralph Lauren executives, Lawrence Stroll and Joel Horowitz, the entire brand continued to grow and Tommy Hilfiger Inc. was founded as the face of the business.
In 1995, his contribution was formally acknowledged by the fashion world. Tommy Hilfiger was named Menswear Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
That same year, Hilfiger launched his first Beverly Hills store, catapulting him into the next league as an international designer.
A winning formula for the Tommy Hilfiger brand
The American designer pioneered a new form of marketing through successful collaborations with celebrities. Tommy Hilfiger sponsored hip-hop stars and funded the tours of world-famous pop icons.
He also collaborated on fashion and fragrance campaigns with models and rock stars and partnered with a tennis star who became a Hilfiger brand ambassador.
Today, Hilfiger’s collections include:
- Tommy Hilfiger Tailored for Men
- The Hilfiger Collection for Women
- Hilfiger Denim
- A women’s sportswear line
- A men’s sportswear line
- Children’s wear
- Footwear
- Accessories
- Bedding
- Fragrances
Tommy Hilfiger changes things up
In 2010, Hilfiger sold The Tommy Hilfiger Corporation to Phillips van Heusen. Now under the umbrella of PVH Corp and with global retail sales in 2023 of around $9 billion, it looks set to continue to thrive.
It also has strong sustainability and inclusivity programs, including the Adaptive clothing range for people with disabilities.
Tommy Hilfiger remains the company’s principal designer and still has his finger on the pulse of American fashion and pop culture.

Since he sold the business, Hilfiger has sponsored several seasons of “Americans in Paris.” This showcases aspiring designers in the fashion industry.
As part of the program, Hilfiger collaborated with designers Simon Spurr and George Esquivel, amongst others.
Hilfiger published his memoir, “American Dreamer” in 2015, as a retrospective of his last 30 years in the fashion industry.
Tommy Hilfiger in recent years
Today, this fashion icon lives in Palm Beach, Florida, with his wife, Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger and their five children.
Hilfiger continues to make a difference through The Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation, which aims to empower America’s youth, as well as many other philanthropic programs.
Tommy Hilfiger eyewear
Tommy Hilfiger glasses follow his timeless American style. Their signature “preppy with a twist” look is inspired by vintage designs and transformed into a bold and modern collection.
And as with Tommy Hilfiger clothes, they often include red, white and blue elements.

From traditional shapes like square, round and rectangular to more unusual silhouettes, like geometric or cat-eye silhouettes, there’s a Tommy Hilfiger frame for every face.
Go Ivy League with thick-rimmed frames, get creative with round or geometric shapes, or exude sophistication with a semi-rimless option.

Also, look out for sporty elements and accents like patterned temple arms, which keep things interesting.

The minimalistic design of Tommy Hilfiger eyewear means you can pair them with a tailored suit or a casual weekend outfit for a classic yet modern look.

And if it’s Tommy Hilfiger sunglasses you’re after, you have a wealth of options available there too. From sporty single-lens or wraparound frames to cool pilot designs in a range of lens colours, they’re both functional and stylish.

With adjustable nose pads and spring hinges, all Tommy Hilfiger eyewear is designed to fit right and their high-quality materials and craftsmanship ensure you’re getting the value you’ve paid for.
Shop online for Tommy Hilfiger glasses today and add a touch of classic American cool to your outfits. It’s a look that will never go out of style.