Tommy Hilfiger and his siblings Andy and Betsy have partnered with Elmira College to establish the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Business School, which will combine business education with real-world fashion industry experience. It will be part of its bachelor’s degree in business administration.
The Hilfiger siblings grew up in Elmira, N.Y., where Tommy Hilfiger opened his first local store in 1969 called People’s Place. Hilfiger and his family have maintained their connection to the community through their work and philanthropy.
“The partnership with Elmira College reflects much more than my personal connection to the area,” said Tommy Hilfiger, founder and principal designer of Tommy Hilfiger Corp., which generated $9.2 billion in global retail sales in 2019. “The fashion industry runs on a never-ending influx of new talent, and this program will be instrumental in shaping aspiring designers and entrepreneurs through firsthand knowledge and experience in the business.”
He noted that Elmira College has a national reputation for experiential learning, both within and outside the classroom, “and this program will open up exciting career opportunities for students as well as boost the industry’s talent pool.” He expects to invite his network of industry contacts to lecture at the school.