In designing a lifestyle brand, you have to know more than just designing clothes.
These are optimistic pieces, travel pieces that go anywhere.
Over the last 15 years we’ve developed our brand into a global brand and we wanted our giving to follow suit.
Algebra looked like Chinese characters to me, and I could never get into reading Shakespeare. I just did not get it.
I currently live in the Plaza in New York and I love it – all that history, all those interesting stories.
I had no confidence at school. I was not a good student and I really thought I was pretty stupid. Just dumb.
I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to build some kind of lifestyle brand that was preppy and cool.
If it weren’t for rock’n’roll, I wouldn’t be a designer.
We like to believe our fashion is growing.
The preppy lifestyle has gone global. We feel that our business has grown so well because preppy travels so well. It’s all-American classic.
My mother was kind and forgiving and would take in all the waifs and strays in our neighbourhood; we always compared her to Mother Teresa. She taught me a lot.
If I see someone wearing Hilfiger it makes me proud, but then I wonder what I could do to make the style more relevant for them next year?
I’ve never tried to do couture, because it’s a whole different beast.
My mother inspired me to treat others as I would want to be treated regardless of age, race or financial status.
I was looking at people like Jim Morrison and David Bowie and Mick Jagger and I thought, Ah! I want to look like them.
I disapprove of lots of decisions made by George Bush: the war, the meddling in the affairs of other countries, the conversations with dictators; it was a dark time.
I thought, if I went into business I’d be able to control my own destiny.
Good sportsmanship means treating others with respect. I consider myself a pretty good sport.
Women were wearing the men’s button-downs so I added men’s touches into women’s shirts. They’re basically the same – just sexier. They’re reshaped to the female body.
Winning a trophy is always nice, but my personal satisfaction comes from reflecting on the passion, motivation, and determination that went into getting me there.
I saw my future. I pictured it, but didn’t quite know how to get there. But I knew that I should never give up.