TOMMY HILFIGER
Name: Tommy Hilfiger
Born: March 24, 1951 Elmira, New York, U.S.A.
Thomas Jacob Hilfiger (born March 24, 1951 in Elmira, New York) is a world-famous
American fashion designer and creator of the eponymous "Tommy Hilfiger" and "Tommy"
brands.
Hilfiger was born March 24, 1951 and raised in Elmira, New York. Hilfiger grew
up in an Irish Catholic family, the second of nine children. His parents
originally intended for him to be an engineer. He attended Elmira Free Academy
for high school. Rather than furthering his education, he started to work in
retail at the age of 18. Hilfiger would trek down to New York City to get his
hands on jeans and bell-bottom pants which he customized and resold at a local
downtown Elmira, New York store, Brown's.
He later opened his own store, named The People's Place, around the block in
downtown Elmira. Although the store was a hot spot for teens with frequent
contests and live DJ appearances, there were often more people hanging out than
shopping. Over the years, a number of stores closed in downtown Elmira as
shopping traffic shifted to the new Arnot Mall in Horseheads, New York. It wasn't
long before The People's Place became another casualty. After seven years, The
People's Place went bankrupt, when Hilfiger was 25. The site of the original
store has since been demolished to make room for First Arena, home of the Elmira
Jackals Hockey team.
After turning to the design aspect of clothing by designing for the rest of his
stores in upstate New York (a total of 10), Hilfiger moved to New York City with
his now estranged wife, Susie. Although he was offered design assistant
positions with designers Calvin Klein and Perry Ellis -- and was broke -- he
turned them both down with greater plans in mind.
In 1998, Hilfiger gave singer Aaliyah her endorsement deal, in which he was
honored to have Her in his Summer 1998 fashion show in Jamaica.
In 2005, a CBS TV reality show called The Cut tracked the progress of sixteen
contestants as they competed for a design job with Hilfiger in similar fashion
to Donald Trump's The Apprentice. In the end Hilfiger chose Chris Cortez.
In May 2006, Hilfiger had a close encounter with Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose
at the Plumm in New York City. Hilfiger reportedly took a couple of swings at
Axl Rose for moving his girlfriend's drink, before being carried away kicking
and screaming by his own security guards.[1] Club owner Noel Ashman stated, "Axl
was a gentleman and had the good sense not to retaliate as he would have done
some serious damage to Hilfiger." Later that night, Rose dedicated the song "You're
Crazy" to "My good friend Tommy Hilfiger."
In 2006, Tommy Hilfiger sold his company for $1.6 billion, or $16.80 a share, to
Apax Partners, a private investment company.[2][3][4]
He is dating Dee Ocleppo (former wife of Gianni Ocleppo, famous Italian Tennis
player of the 80's). Hilfiger has four children. His daughter Ally was featured
in the MTV reality show Rich Girls and he also has a son Rich Hil who is signed
to Hip Hop super producer Swizz Beatz' label Full Surface.
Name: Tommy Hilfiger
Born: March 24, 1951 Elmira, New York, U.S.A.
Thomas Jacob Hilfiger (born March 24, 1951 in Elmira, New York) is a world-famous
American fashion designer and creator of the eponymous "Tommy Hilfiger" and "Tommy"
brands.
Hilfiger was born March 24, 1951 and raised in Elmira, New York. Hilfiger grew
up in an Irish Catholic family, the second of nine children. His parents
originally intended for him to be an engineer. He attended Elmira Free Academy
for high school. Rather than furthering his education, he started to work in
retail at the age of 18. Hilfiger would trek down to New York City to get his
hands on jeans and bell-bottom pants which he customized and resold at a local
downtown Elmira, New York store, Brown's.
He later opened his own store, named The People's Place, around the block in
downtown Elmira. Although the store was a hot spot for teens with frequent
contests and live DJ appearances, there were often more people hanging out than
shopping. Over the years, a number of stores closed in downtown Elmira as
shopping traffic shifted to the new Arnot Mall in Horseheads, New York. It wasn't
long before The People's Place became another casualty. After seven years, The
People's Place went bankrupt, when Hilfiger was 25. The site of the original
store has since been demolished to make room for First Arena, home of the Elmira
Jackals Hockey team.
After turning to the design aspect of clothing by designing for the rest of his
stores in upstate New York (a total of 10), Hilfiger moved to New York City with
his now estranged wife, Susie. Although he was offered design assistant
positions with designers Calvin Klein and Perry Ellis -- and was broke -- he
turned them both down with greater plans in mind.
In 1998, Hilfiger gave singer Aaliyah her endorsement deal, in which he was
honored to have Her in his Summer 1998 fashion show in Jamaica.
In 2005, a CBS TV reality show called The Cut tracked the progress of sixteen
contestants as they competed for a design job with Hilfiger in similar fashion
to Donald Trump's The Apprentice. In the end Hilfiger chose Chris Cortez.
In May 2006, Hilfiger had a close encounter with Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose
at the Plumm in New York City. Hilfiger reportedly took a couple of swings at
Axl Rose for moving his girlfriend's drink, before being carried away kicking
and screaming by his own security guards.[1] Club owner Noel Ashman stated, "Axl
was a gentleman and had the good sense not to retaliate as he would have done
some serious damage to Hilfiger." Later that night, Rose dedicated the song "You're
Crazy" to "My good friend Tommy Hilfiger."
In 2006, Tommy Hilfiger sold his company for $1.6 billion, or $16.80 a share, to
Apax Partners, a private investment company.[2][3][4]
He is dating Dee Ocleppo (former wife of Gianni Ocleppo, famous Italian Tennis
player of the 80's). Hilfiger has four children. His daughter Ally was featured
in the MTV reality show Rich Girls and he also has a son Rich Hil who is signed
to Hip Hop super producer Swizz Beatz' label Full Surface.