Tommy Hilfiger is pleased to announce key partnerships with its People’s Place Program. Building on Tommy Hilfiger's long history of collaborating with diverse talent, the program will join forces with trailblazing voices of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) in fashion to advance underrepresented communities.
“The People’s Place Program is a cornerstone in our efforts to open the door to everyone who has been left out by fashion,” said Mr. Tommy Hilfiger, Principal Designer, Tommy Hilfiger Global. “This welcoming spirit has always been at the heart of our brand, and we are here to do more and to do better.”
The People’s Place Program was launched in July 2020, drawing inspiration from Mr. Hilfiger’s very first store of the same name established in 1969 in his hometown of Elmira, NY. The program amplifies the company’s efforts and dedication of resources to increasing opportunities and visibility for underrepresented communities within the fashion and apparel industries around the world. The platform acts on these commitments through three pillars – Partnerships & Representation, Career Support & Industry Access, and Industry Leadership – with the objective of achieving meaningful, long-lasting change.
“We are determined to continue putting real action behind our words,” said Avery Baker, President and Chief Brand Officer, Tommy Hilfiger Global. “Equity and inclusion cannot be achieved through short-term recognition; we have to bring them to the forefront every day.”
The People’s Place Program is excited to announce its first round of partnerships, leading the way for Tommy Hilfiger to engage year-round with recognized leaders who are known for championing inclusion and diversity.
The Fashion and Race Database (FRD)
The Fashion and Race Database is an online platform that expands the narrative of fashion history and challenges misrepresentation within the fashion system. Created by Kim Jenkins, Assistant Professor of Fashion Studies at Ryerson University, the database is an educational resource that brings focus back to the people who previously had been hidden in the margins of fashion history.
The People’s Place Program will partner with FRD to fund and support a new research study called “The Unsung History of American Sportswear” to uncover overlooked influences from Black American culture on signature TOMMY HILFIGER styles. Over the course of 2021, the research will be developed into content series and educational resources that will be available internally, and to industry peers and consumers. The material will be designed to engage with audiences about the unrecognized areas of American style, and to open new dialogue on how marginalized history can come forward through purposeful collaborations in the industry.
“The Fashion and Race Database is thrilled to partner with an American company like Tommy Hilfiger and its namesake brand, a vibrant piece of fashion history,” said Kim Jenkins. “As a professor and founder of the database, it has been my mission to urge brand owners to embrace what fashion education has to offer the industry. Tommy Hilfiger understands and respects the power of this learning, and is leading the charge, showing its peers what is possible in building a more intelligent and compassionate fashion system. ”
The research will include a detailed examination of American sportswear through a study of denim, the cotton trade, origins of preppy style at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the sartorial expression of social activist moments, streetwear culture, and additional categories that will come to life through FRD’s research.
“This critically timed relationship will support FRD’s goal to center and amplify racialized fashion scholarship, illuminate under-examined histories and address representation throughout fashion,” said Randy Cousin, SVP, Product Concepts and People’s Place Program.
Harlem Fashion Row (HFR)
Harlem Fashion Row is a New York-based agency created to champion the advancement of People of Color in the fashion industry. HFR Founder and CEO Brandice Daniel was inspired to celebrate and uplift the underrepresented talent she found in her own community. Beginning as a grassroots effort in 2007, Harlem Fashion Row is now an established player in the New York fashion world.
Tommy Hilfiger is a supporting sponsor for HFR’s 3rd Annual Digital Fashion Summit, taking place on February 18, 2021. Mr. Hilfiger and Mr. Cousin will join Brandice to discuss how Tommy Hilfiger is working towards creating more access and opportunities for BIPOC talent in the fashion industry.
Tommy Hilfiger will also partner with HFR to identify dynamic ways for emerging talent to receive mentorship and network with internal teams as well as industry insiders.
“We are delighted to partner with Tommy Hilfiger on the Annual Digital Fashion Summit to highlight solutions and practices for diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry,” said Brandice Daniel. “With our collaborative effort, we aim to address and implement change. Addressing the concerns takes a long-term commitment and we acknowledge the steps that Tommy Hilfiger is taking, and we are elated about their upcoming plans to provide opportunities for designers of color.”
Tommy Hilfiger Campaigns, Social Media and Collaborations
Tommy Hilfiger is using its global reach to bring communities together to drive positive change. The Spring 2021 TOMMY HILFIGER and TOMMY JEANS campaigns feature a diverse cast of social, cultural and creative influencers – activists, musicians, poets, dancers, filmmakers, and more – whose work is inspiring people around the world.
This month, Black talent, including musician and producer Saba, and the horse riding and mentorship collective Compton Cowboys, will take over the brand’s social media channels to highlight significant moments in Black American history and celebrate the people and culture that inspire them every day.
Over the summer, Tommy Hilfiger will launch collaborative capsule collections with actor, model and activist, Indya Moore, and fashion designer and longtime mentee of Mr. Hilfiger, Romeo Hunte. With the collaborations, Indya and Romeo each give voice to the authentic spirit of individuality and self-expression that they embody. Tommy Hilfiger is excited to partner with this new generation of changemakers to bring their vision to fans across the globe.
Friends and followers of the brand are invited to join the conversation on social media using #TommyHilfiger, and @TommyHilfiger.
The People’s Place Program contributes to Tommy Hilfiger’s mission to create fashion that "Wastes Nothing and Welcomes All" – which puts inclusion at the heart of everything we do internally and externally. For more information about Tommy Hilfiger’s social and environmental sustainability journey visit sustainability.tommy.com.