Just A Minute With: Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger

STOCKHOLM (Reuters Life!) - Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger says that if he had not ended up making clothes he probably would have made movies.

Known for a style that evokes the American East coast with his New England-inspired designs, Hilfiger says he could imagine himself on the West coast, behind or in front of the camera.

Hilfiger was in Stockholm for a promotional visit and he spoke to Reuters about his life and ideas. Dressed in loafers (no socks, despite the Nordic city's autumnal chill), jeans and a pale blue Oxford shirt, Hilfiger said he likes the "classic" look for himself, not just his customers.

Q: What would you do if you hadn't become a designer?

A: I'd have been in Hollywood as a producer, actor, director, something like that.

Q: What kind of movies would you make?

A: Movies with thought, with deep meaning... It would be something deep about the world, how to help the world, how to help (alleviate) poverty.

Q: What will you do here in Stockholm?

A: We're going to go look at all the different talents, and give them advice. Probably more commercial, because they are creative already. I'll tell them how to take the creativity to make money.

Q: What advice would have been helpful to you 40 years ago?

A: I think I was smart enough to surround myself with good people.... But if someone would have told me that earlier, I don't know if I would have listened, because sometimes you don't know what good people represent. Thirty years ago good people were my friends who liked to hang around listen to music and look cool and pick up girls. But now I look at people's intelligence, how they can help me. Maybe they're international tax lawyers or accountants. Still good people but a whole different mindset.

Q: If you could do anything different, what would that be?

A: Maybe I wouldn't have gone so big in the States. I became so big in the States, and everything that becomes so big has to come down a little. I would have kept the supply less than the demand. Once you oversupply, the demand dries out.

Q: How do you think fashion has changed during your years in the industry?

A: A lot more competition. A lot more at the high end and a lot more at the low.... Fashion itself comes in many different ways. There is fantasy fashion that not many people can wear or could afford. Then there is wearable fashion that is just part of our everyday life. It depends on the definition of fashion - fashion is usually guided by trend, but style is forever.

Q: What should we be looking for come Spring 2008?

A: Still luxury, color, very, very light-weight fabrics and some shiny fabrics. For women, more lady-like clothes. For men. more tailored, more dressed up, more sophisticated, slimmer, closer to the body.

(Editing by Paul Casciato)

Macy and Tommy Hilfiger's alliance

Macy’s and Tommy Hilfiger have signed a strategic alliance agreement with Macy's being the exclusive department store retailer of Tommy Hilfiger men's and women's sportswear in the United States, beginning in Fall 2008.Under this agreement, Macy's will expand Hilfiger merchandise assortments in every Macy's division and on macys.com, increase and enhance location of Hilfiger shops in high-volume Macy's stores, renovate and upgrade existing Tommy Hilfiger shops and feature Hilfiger collections in Macy's marketing campaigns. The two companies will work closely together on new ventures and brand extensions.

Classic American styled apparel, Tommy Hilfiger will continue to operate its own freestanding stores and sell online at tommy.com. All products distributed through Tommy Hilfiger's various licensees will continue to be sold on a nonexclusive basis through Macy's, as well as other accounts.

“Through this exclusivity agreement, we will bring our customers an increasing level of compelling and distinctive fashions that are consistent with their aspirations and lifestyles. Offering this brand on a much more exclusive basis is another powerful reason for customers to choose to shop at Macy’s”, says Terry J. Lundgren, Macy’s.

"The recent consolidation of department stores in our market place has made a strategic alliance between our two companies all the more compelling and logical. I am extremely pleased we have partnered to build something great together and share Terry’s vision." said Principal Designer Tommy Hilfiger.

American pop culture By Tommy Hilfiger with George Lois

Inspired by Tommy Hilfiger's passion for Americana and George Lois' provocative visual power, Iconic America presents a mosaic of over 400 iconic and iconoclastic images from the melting pot of the American experience.

The influence that these iconic images have had on the world is immeasurable; however, it is the way in which they are uniquely juxtaposed on the pages of Iconic America that compels Americans to question who we are, what we stand for, and perhaps, where we should be heading.

Not only does Iconic America celebrate the snap, crackle, and pop of American popular culture, it offers a poignant and compelling commentary on America, dramatizing the national ethos in a startlingly and refreshing new way.

As Tommy Hilfiger writes in the preface, "In a sad time of self-inflicted anti-Americanism, George Lois and I have endeavored to craft an enlightening book that reminds the world, as well as our fellow citizens, of the variety and magnificence of American pop culture."

To coincide with the launch of the book Iconic America, Tommy Hilfiger has designed a unique capsule collection of T-shirts and sweatshirts, which feature striking and unexpected overlays of pop culture and Americana images, similar to the juxtapositions made in the book. The collection will launch in select Tommy Hilfiger stores worldwide.

In addition to a grant from The Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation, Tommy Hilfiger will donate $5 to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF for every copy of the book Iconic America and each item of the capsule collection sold at Tommy Hilfiger stores. Fifty percent of that will go towards helping the children of the world and fifty percent towards educating American children about the world.

"UNICEF is delighted to partner with Tommy Hilfiger and this unique publication, Iconic America - a book that vividly captures the colorful mosaic that is the American spirit," said Caryl M. Stern, president and CEO, U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "Saving children's lives is what we do and I have seen the American spirit rally to intervene in humanitarian crises around the world - whether through volunteerism or charitable giving, its strength cannot be denied."

In addition to the edition that will be available wherever books are sold, a special exclusive cover of the book can be found at select Tommy Hilfiger stores worldwide.

GEORGE LOIS: After returning as a Korean War veteran, a brash young son of Greek immigrants burst upon the scene in the late 1950s and became a pioneer of the Creative Revolution in advertising and design in the late 1960s. George Lois is the most creative, prolific design communicator of our time, renowned for dozens of marketing miracles that triggered innovative and populist changes in American culture.

New York magazine famously named Lois "Superman of Madison Avenue, America's master communicator,"

Estée Lauder Stockholders' Meeting on Nov 9

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc will hold its 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Friday, November 9, 2007. On that date, the Company will audio webcast the meeting live beginning at 10:00 a.m. (EST). Those wishing to access the webcast can visit the "Investor" section of www.elcompanies.com, the Company's website. The meeting will be archived on the site for two weeks. The Estée Lauder Companies Inc is one of the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The Company's products are sold in over 135 countries and territories under well-recognized brand names, including Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Prescriptives, Lab Series, Origins, M-A-C, Bobbi Brown, Tommy Hilfiger, Kiton, La Mer, Donna Karan, Aveda, Jo Malone, Bumble and bumble, Darphin, Michael Kors, American Beauty, Flirt!, Good Skin, Grassroots, Sean John, Missoni, Daisy Fuentes, Tom Ford Beauty, Mustang, Coach and Ojon.

Lagerfeld Inks Deal With Vaprio Stile

Godfrey Deeny Tue Oct 30, 1:06 PM ET

Paris - The house of Karl Lagerfeld has inked a licensing deal with Italy's Vaprio Stile to produce the designer's signature women's collection starting with the fall 2008 season.

Tommy Hilfiger Corp., to boost the Lagerfeld brand, which has historically had more name recognition than significant fashion sales.

"In Italy, there is a high quality capacity for ready-to-wear licenses because in that area it is a real tradition," commented Lagerfeld, three weeks after staging his well-received spring-summer 2008 collection in a fashion tent outside the Louvre.

The designer will continue to directly manage the design and marketing of the collection, the first of which manufactured by Vaprio will debut on a Paris catwalk in February 2008 and bow at retail in Fall 2008. The collection, to be sold worldwide in select department stores and specialty stores, is clearly targeted at what Hilfiger honchos believe is a significant untapped demand for clothes by Lagerfeld, one of history's best-known designers.

Hilfiger execs insist the partnership will combine Lagerfeld's design vision with Vaprio Stile's expertise in manufacturing, sales and distribution.

"This partnership with Vaprio Stile demonstrates our continued effort to build and expand the Karl Lagerfeld brand to become a true global business," insisted Fred Gehring, CEO, of the Lagerfeld holding.

Gehring is known to be convinced that Lagerfeld can achieve important sales numbers in America and the Far East, as evidenced by the gigantic pent-up desire by consumers for designs by Karl during his highly successful collaboration with mass market retailer H&M in 2004.

"Given Vaprio Stile's proven track record in producing and distributing women's wear of exceptional quality, we are confident that we have found the best partner to enable the Karl Lagerfeld collection to maximize its potential and to reach a broader consumer base worldwide," Dutch-born but New York based Gehring added.

Equally enthusiastic was Vaprio Stile Chairman Roberto Zanetto: "Karl Lagerfeld's creative experience, style and prestige will be a great contribution to our common goal...strategic development and success of the Karl Lagerfeld women's ready-to-wear collection worldwide."

Vaprio Stile, controlled by Arner Private Equity Fund, manages the license of Emanuel Ungaro and produces the Givenchy collection.

These past weeks, the house of Lagerfeld has negotiated improved licenses for eyewear, handbags and fragrances, with fresh launches planned for next year.

Macy's in exclusive deal with Hilfiger

Fri Oct 26, 1:28 PM ET

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Retailer Macy's Inc (M.N) said on Friday it signed an accord with Tommy Hilfiger USA Inc to be the exclusive U.S. department store retailer of the design company's men's and women's sportswear, starting in fall 2008.

Under the pact, Macy's will expand Hilfiger offerings in its stores and on its Web site, and work with Hilfiger on new ventures and brand extensions, the two companies said in a statement.

Tommy Hilfiger will continue to operate its own free-standing stores and sell goods online at tommy.com, the companies added. Products distributed through Hilfiger's licensees will still be sold on a nonexclusive basis.

The move comes as Macy's is looking to boost awareness of its brand and lift sales after acquiring May Department Stores two years ago. Last year, the company converted more than 400 former May stores, which operated under names such as Foley's and Hecht's, to the Macy's name.

In recent months, Macy's has boosted promotions to attract shoppers as sales at those ex-May stores disappointed.

"I think Macy's is playing catch-up with the likes of J.C. Penney Co (JCP.N) and Kohl's Corp (KSS.N)," which have increased their unique brands, said Brian Sozzi, a retail analyst with Wall Street Strategies.

"I don't see it as a big deal for Macy's; it's more of a big deal for Tommy Hilfiger," Sozzi said.

Kohl's recently launched an exclusive clothing line by designer Vera Wang and kitchen gadgets under the Food Network brand. Penney has added unique brands including Liz & Co. by Liz Claiborne Inc (LIZ.N), and plans to launch a line of clothes and home goods made by Polo Ralph Lauren Corp (RL.N) in spring 2008.

Macy's rolled out an exclusive line of home products by Martha Stewart in September. Its recent television ads have featured Stewart and singer Usher, who has a fragrance line at the retailer.

Macy's, which also operates Bloomingdale's stores, said this week that its new holiday ad campaign will feature designer Hilfiger and other famous names such as chef Emeril Lagasse and entertainer Sean (Diddy) Combs.

Macy's shares were up 34 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $32.80 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Macy's stock is down 14 percent so far this year while Kohl's and Penney are off 18 percent and 28 percent, respectively.