Tommy Hilfiger has announced several partnerships with its People’s Place Program to amplify BIPOC fashion and further 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 Tommy Hilfiger, principal designer at 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 first launched last July to highlight the company’s efforts in creating opportunities, while also bringing additional visibility to underrepresented communities within the fashion and apparel industries on a global level. The program aims to act on these commitments through its three central pillars: Partnership & Representation, Career Support & Industry Access and Industry Leadership.
In the first round of partnerships, the following collaborations will help Tommy Hilfiger champion its efforts toward creating inclusivity and diversity in fashion:
The Fashion and Race Database (FRD) – an online platform created by Kim Jenkins, an assistant professor of fashion studies at Ryerson University. The platform offers open-source tools that expand the narrative of fashion history and challenge misrepresentation within the fashion 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. ”
Through this specific partnership, The People’s Place Program will fund and support FRD to conduct a research study called “The Unsung History of American Sportswear,” which will dig deeper into overlooked inspirations from Black American culture that helped create some of the signature Tommy Hilfiger styles we know today.
Included in the research will be a detailed examination of American sportswear through the study of denim, the cotton trade, the origination of preppy style at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), social activist influences, streetwear culture, and any additional categories that will come to fruition through FRD’s research.
All research findings will then be turned into a content series as well as educational resources that will be distributed internally and will be made accessible to industry peers and consumers.
“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 senior vice president, product concepts and People’s Place Program.
Harlem’s Fashion Row (HFR) – a New York-based agency founded by CEO Brandice Daniel that engages audiences and aligns brand partners with emerging designers of color in fashion.
Through its support, Tommy Hilfiger will become a sponsor for Harlem’s Fashion Row’s third annual Digital Fashion Summit, which is set to take place on February 18, 2021.
“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.”
Hilfiger and Cousin will join Daniel to discuss how the Tommy Hilfiger brand can create more access and opportunities for BIPOC in the fashion industry. The two will identify ways for emerging talent to receive mentorship and network with internal teams and industry insiders.
Furthermore, Tommy Hilfiger has also worked to incorporate a diverse cast of social, cultural and creative influencers, including activists, musicians, poets, dancers and filmmakers, across its spring campaigns for Tommy Hilfiger and Tommy Jeans.
This summer, Hilfiger also plans to launch a collaborative capsule collection with actor, model and activist Indya Moore and Romeo Hunte, a fashion designer whom Hilfiger has had the opportunity to mentor over the years.
“We are determined to continue putting real action behind our words,” said Avery Baker, president and chief brand officer of Tommy Hilfiger. “Equity and inclusion cannot be achieved through short-term recognition; we have to bring them to the forefront every day.”