Tommy Hilfiger: I don't like bling, I like fun.

Gulf News

65-year-old iconic fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger came to be inducted into the World Retail Congress Hall of Fame. This year also marks 10 years since his brand came into the Gulf. Hilfiger began working at the age of 18 when he opened his fashion retail and record store called People’s Place in 1968, combining his two great loves — fashion and music. The store expanded into a chain but went bankrupt in 1977, forcing him to find work as a freelance designer. It was while working for different brands in New York City that he met Indian businessman Mohan Murjani who was looking to start a fashion line. The two launched Tommy Hilfiger in 1985.  Full Gulf News article here: http://gulfnews.com/life-style/celebrity/hollywood/tommy-hilfiger-on-being-mr-fomo-1.1714470  See more at: http://gulfnews.com/gntv

Transcript

00:00It's growing, actually, I mean, China, India, there are regions that are growing really

00:14well.

00:15Some regions are not growing as fast, but this continues to grow.

00:26I'm always looking at what we should be doing next.

00:30Like last year at this time, I was thinking, okay, we're going to relaunch our underwear.

00:35Who should it be?

00:37Should it be a Hollywood star representing us?

00:40Should it be a musician?

00:41Then we thought, Rafael Nadal.

00:44He's a friend, he's a great tennis player, he's got an incredible body, he's very cool.

00:52It's the easy part, actually, because you're always looking at the next, the next, the

00:56next.

00:57Then I'm thinking, okay, well, what are we going to do next season?

00:59Oh, why don't we do this?

01:02It's always looking into the future and trying to figure out the next.

01:07The hard part sometimes is editing it down, because there are so many ideas.

01:15I say that we're connected to fame, F-A-M-E.

01:20Fame, art, music, entertainment, Hollywood, sports, it's all connected to pop culture,

01:30which is what Andy Warhol brought us.

01:33He inspired me.

01:38We've done collections for Ramadan, and this will be the third year in a row we've done

01:44that.

01:45I would like to listen to the consumer and react based upon what the consumer is asking

01:50for.

01:53Look, if I were the owner of Saint Laurent, I would not be happy with Hedi Slimane leaving

02:04because he really changed the business for Saint Laurent.

02:13There are certain things I wouldn't do.

02:18The sneakers that are being done with all the gold chains and studs, I don't like bling.

02:25I like fun.

02:30I think you do need to give back, especially if you're making money.

02:37The proper thing to do is to give back and help others.

02:45I think a brand is like a living thing.

02:48I think it's moving and growing and moving and growing.

02:51I hope to continue seeing it move and grow and branch into other things.

03:04I would have to be a designer who would be willing to do what we have set out to do because

03:14we have a certain signature and a certain look, and I wouldn't want to dramatically

03:20change that.

03:21I like to evolve it and move it forward.

03:24They say, well, you're a preppy.

03:26Preppy can be rock and roll.

03:28Preppy can be biker.

03:32Preppy can be sporty.

03:33Preppy can be outdoorsy.

03:36Preppy can be surf.

03:38Preppy can be chic.

03:40Preppy can be a lot of things.

03:42So I would want somebody who would understand that language and be able to move the brand

03:48forward with those ideas.

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