Elmira City, New York. This former manufacturing town Elmira Monastery — A Prison Reform Pioneer — And Its Place Mark Twain has written some of the world’s most famous novels. it’s everywhere fashion Mogul Tommy Hilfiger has come of age.
of second of nine siblingsHilfiger found his passion in the western half of New York City by selling jeans in a red brick corner store.In an interview with Forbes, the designer said that during his senior year of high school, he worked on “The People’s Place” (previously Underground boutiques and underground).
“We donated $125 a pair and started selling jeans. Then we opened a store called The People’s Place. It was a big hit,” he said. quote what you said“I got to the point where I was selling jeans out of the trunk of my car because people wanted them so badly.”
“We were so successful that we decided to open stores in other college towns. It was one of the best times of my life. to be part of the Elmira community,” he said. bloomberg.
After his business went bankrupt at the age of 25, Tommy Hilfiger began taking commerce classes to understand the fashion business. Source: Angela Weiss/AFP
Tommy Hilfiger’s passion for fashion
Seven years later, the store went bankrupt. Hilfiger was still 25 years old. Bankruptcy may have been avoided, but it made me realize that in order to be successful as a brand, I had to understand how the whole business works. ”
This is why Hilfiger returned to his hometown of Elmira. Other inspiring fashion because he teaches designers and entrepreneurs what it takes to be big. Speaking to Bloomberg, the 71-year-old explained: Elmira College It’s such a wonderful institution and I have so many sentimental memories. It’s great to do something with them. ”
He didn’t go to school— or go to college — Hilfiger launched a fashion merchandising and marketing business program at Elmira College and donated US$100,000 to the college.Enrollment in the school’s business program more than 2 times As a result, from two years ago.
Tommy Hilfiger returns to the town where he grew up to give back to the community. Source: Spencer Platt/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP
“Think big, dream big”
fashion designer’s The first employee at his first store in downtown Elmira was also a student at Elmira College. He described the town as a place where he “really learned about work ethics.”
Students in the Hilfiger Program can graduate in three years. This gives her a year’s head start over her peers. “I think it gives students the drive to understand the program in a short amount of time and learn as much as they would if they extended it for four years,” noted the rock and roll enthusiast.
The Hilfiger Gallery on the Elmira College campus showcases memorabilia and past collections, which he sold to a private equity firm in 2006 for $1.6 billion. “The Tommy Hilfiger brand has a lot of history spanning more than 37 years of his life, and it’s like having a gift to inspire schoolchildren under one roof. Think big, dream big.” I think you should,” he added.
In March, the university also announced a partnership with the New York Fashion Institute of Technology.