The Tommy Hilfiger brand was founded in 1985.
Tommy Hilfiger established his namesake company in New York City with financial backing from the Murjani Group. Its first signature collection focused on updated American classics, including button-down shirts, chinos, and other preppy sportswear. A large Times Square billboard helped introduce the new label with unusually bold marketing.
The date can be confused with earlier stages of Hilfiger’s career. He had already co-founded the People’s Place clothing store in 1971, and he worked on other labels before launching his own brand. Those experiences shaped his approach, but they do not mark the founding of Tommy Hilfiger.
The company separated from Murjani International in 1989, when Silas Chou provided new financial backing. Tommy Hilfiger Corporation went public in 1992, and the business later expanded from menswear into women’s clothing, accessories, fragrances, and home products.