Tommy Hilfiger, who grew up in Elmira, NY, and still visits often, is showcased at the recently opened Tommy Hilfiger Gallery at the Elmira college’s Hamilton Hall. Tommy’s sister, Betsy Hilfiger, has been the gallery’s curator since its opening in October 2021 and says she is the family historian for the nine Hilfiger children. Though two of their siblings have since passed, Betsy said she, Tommy, and the remaining siblings “are extremely close.”
Tommy’s first brush with fashion happened after he took a trip as a teen to New York City in 1969. “He went to New York City with a friend and his uncle, and he discovered bell bottom jeans were the hottest thing,” Betsy said. A short time later, Tommy and his friend returned to New York City with empty suitcases to pick up bell bottom jeans to bring back to their hometown.
Tommy sold his first pair of jeans to a girl at Elmira College who was there for cheerleading camp, according to Betsy. Soon, Tommy began to sell the jeans to others at the college campus
Tommy’s big break came in 1985 after a hangman-style billboard campaign ran in Times Square in New York. The ad compared Tommy to three prominent men’s fashion designers at the time – Perry Ellis, Calvin Klein, and Ralph Ellis – using only their initials. “Everyone was wondering who TH was,” Betsy said. Eventually, the initials were filled in with the name Tommy Hilfiger and the brand started to acquire accounts with such retail chains as Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s.
The Hilfiger brand eventually went global, and the designs caught the attention of artists and musicians. A sweater that Tommy designed for pop singer Michael Jackson is framed and on display at the gallery. Jackson had asked Tommy to design the sweater for a shoot he had with Vibe Magazine. “When he was done wearing the sweater, he gave it back to Tommy in a bag and said, ‘I only wear things once,’” Betsy said.
Photos of other music artists wearing clothing Tommy designed for them adorn the gallery walls. There’s pictures of R&B artist Usher wearing Tommy gear and one of Aaliyah with jeans and a Tommy top. A denim jumpsuit designed for Jennifer Lopez hangs on one of the walls. A pair of cut off denim shorts with butterfly patches designed for Mariah Carey also hangs at the gallery. There’s a picture of Tommy with the group Destiny’s Child, including Beyonce, all wearing his gear. The group was new then and was getting ready to perform at a fashion show at Macy’s, Betsy said.
Items from Tommy’s many collaborations are also part of the gallery. Tommy has designed racing jackets for Formula One Racing for driver Lewis Hamilton. Tommy also has collaborated with Timberland boot company to design shoes and the NFL to design apparel.
The gallery also outlines how Hilfiger’s fashion empire has been a family affair. His love of him for family is captured in the displays with the many photographs of Tommy with his siblings of him. Andy previously worked in public relations for Tommy’s brand and some of his items from him are in the gallery as well. Tommy’s younger sister, Ginny, has her own line called Ginny H. There are images of her designs by her on a board in the gallery.
Betsy Hilfiger 
Tommy Hilfiger 
Elmira college’s Hamilton Hall
SOURCE: Elmira College
