Tommy Hilfiger, formerly known as Tommy Hilfiger Corporation and Tommy Hilfiger Inc., is an American multinational corporation that designs and manufactures lower market apparel for men, women and children, and a wide range of licensed products such as footwear, accessories, fragrances and home furnishings. The company was founded in 1985, and today is sold in department stores and over 1400 free-standing retail stores in 90 countries.
Thomas Jacob Hilfiger is the designer behind the Tommy Hilfiger clothing and fragrance lines. Born and raised in Elmira, New York, Tommy Hilfiger started in the fashion industry as a retailer. He opened his first boutique called the People’s Place in his hometown, for which he designed clothing under the name Jacob Alan.
Tommy Hilfiger has dressed or partnered with varied artists such as Aaliyah, Britney Spears, David Bowie and Snoop Doggy Dog. A partnership with the musician Beyoncé Knowles resulted in the introduction of True Star and True Star Gold fragrances. The True Star Men’s fragrance was inspired by and featured advertising with musician Enrique Iglesias.
The brand’s fragrances are created in collaboration with Estee Lauder. The first perfume, Tommy for Men, was launched in 1995. The same scent for women – Tommy Girl, was announced in 1996. Both of them are best sellers. Those fragrances continue to be a key part of the Tommy Hilfiger brand, together with other scents.