The British Fashion Council (BFC) is delighted to announce that Tommy Hilfiger will receive the Outstanding Achievement Award at The Fashion Awards 2021, on Monday 29th November at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Mr. Tommy Hilfiger will be awarded for his outstanding contribution to the global fashion industry, and his continued commitment to creating an inclusive brand that champions people from all backgrounds and experiences.
Following a momentous year of change and evolution, The Fashion Awards 2021 will expand its global reach with a new creative approach and goals for the future, while celebrating this year’s leaders who are changing the fashion industry. The event will celebrate fashion’s global impact and its role at the intersection of culture.
As the Principal Designer and Founder of Tommy Hilfiger, one of the world’s most recognised lifestyle companies, Mr. Tommy Hilfiger is driven by an ever-optimistic vision to break conventions and celebrate individuality. From innovative partnerships and celebrity endorsements, to fostering inclusion and diversity in the fashion industry, and pioneering sustainable initiatives, he has been one of the most influential leaders of the last two centuries, and an inspiration to the future generation.
In recent years, driven by a vision to “Waste Nothing and Welcome All” Tommy Hilfiger launched Make It Possible, a sustainability programme advancing the company’s commitment to creating fashion that makes a positive impact on the world.
The program sets 24 bold targets across four key pillars: Circle Round, focusing on making the products fully circular; Made For Life, centralising operations from what is bought to where it’s sold, with sensitivity to climate change, land and freshwater use, as well as chemical pollution; Everyone Welcome, building a brand that is inclusive, accessible and speaks to every TOMMY HILFIGER fan; and Opportunity For All, creating equal access and lifting barriers to success within the organisation.
Make It Possible has been a key milestone in Tommy Hilfiger’s sustainability and inclusivity journey, which includes TOMMY HILFIGER Adaptive, an innovative line of clothing for adults and children with disabilities, and the Fashion Frontier Challenge, dedicated to discovering and accelerating the world’s most impactful fashion startups. In 2020, Tommy Hilfiger launched the People’s Place Program in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement. The initiative seeks to achieve consistent, long-term change in advancing representation of black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) within the creative industries, focusing on partnerships, career access and industry leadership.
Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive, commented: “We are thrilled to be honoring Tommy Hilfiger with the Outstanding Achievement Award. With over 35 years in the business, his contribution to the fashion industry is indeed outstanding. His brand brings fashion and pop culture together and his efforts to change the world for the better combined with his tenacity, collaborations and instinct is what truly sets him apart. We look forward to celebrating with him in London in November.”
Tommy Hilfiger’s career in fashion began as a high school student in 1969 when he opened his first store, People’s Place, in his hometown of Elmira, New York. Ten years later, he moved to Manhattan to pursue a career in fashion design, launching his namesake brand with a single menswear collection in 1985. In 2010, PVH Corp. acquired the Tommy Hilfiger Group, which today boasts an extensive distribution network spanning 100 countries and more than 2,000 TOMMY HILFIGER retail stores on five continents.
Tommy Hilfiger’s commitment to creating change in the industry has been demonstrated through many different events and initiatives. Through the global TommyCares organisation, the Tommy Hilfiger company supports various international initiatives and charities including Save the Children, Autism Speaks and the World Wildlife Fund. Mr. Hilfiger’s diverse achievements have earned him numerous distinguished awards including the CFDA’s prestigious Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 and British GQ’s Design Legend of the Year in in 2020.
The Outstanding Achievement Award celebrates the overwhelming creative contribution of an individual to the fashion industry, who throughout their illustrious career has constantly shaped and reshaped the fashion world through their innovation and creativity. Previous winners of the Award include Giorgio Armani, Miuccia Prada, Ralph Lauren KBE, Karl Lagerfeld, Dame Anna Wintour, Terry and Tricia Jones and Manolo Blahnik CBE to name only a few.
The Fashion Awards is a fundraiser for the BFC Foundation and focuses on celebrating excellence in the fashion industry and supporting the future pipeline of creative talent. The BFC Foundation (Registered Charity Number: 1185152) supports the future growth and success of the British fashion industry by focusing on Education, Grant-Giving and Business Mentoring. The BFC Foundation aims to improve equality and opportunity so that the fashion industry remains diverse and open to all, helping talented designers at all stages of their career from school level through to becoming a global fashion brand. In 2020/21, the BFC raised £1.7 million for the BFC Foundation, and its talent support initiatives.
The generosity and commitment of our partners, suppliers and supporters is more vital than ever. Please help us by acknowledging their support for The Fashion Awards 2021 alongside our Official Partners American Express, Getty Images, Moët & Chandon, Royal Salute and The Londoner for their ongoing support.
General tickets for The Fashion Awards 2021 are available here.