Tommy Hilfiger

Tommy Hilfiger is an American fashion designer who started his entrepreneurial journey in the 1970s as the co-founder of People's Place, a chain of jeans/fashion stores. Under Hilfiger's guidance, vision, and leadership as Principal Designer, the Tommy Hilfiger Group has become one of very few globally recognized designer brands offering a wide range of American-inspired apparel and accessories. Hilfiger's diverse achievements in business, retail, and fashion have earned him a variety of distinguished awards. In 1998, Parsons School of Design in New York City honored him with its Designer of the Year award. In 1995 he was named Menswear Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, and he has won several FiFi Awards, the fragrance industry's most illustrious honor. In 2008, Women's Wear Daily listed him as the No. 1 Designer and #16 Brand in its annual 100 list.

Outside of his business and fashion pursuits, Hilfiger also made significant contributions to various philanthropic causes. In 1995, he launched The Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation, supporting charities that focus on at-risk American youth. His personal involvement in charities extends to Autism Speaks, the MLK Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, and The Fresh Air Fund. Hilfiger further demonstrated his commitment to making a difference with a five-year $2 million commitment to Millennium Promise, a non-profit organization aimed at eradicating extreme poverty, hunger, and preventable disease.