Creative discourse
Manhattan meets Brooklyn - fashion veteran Tommy Hilfiger teams up with newcomer Romeo Hunte. The result: a colourful reinterpretation of American fashion that is meant to represent the dream of a future just like it.
What is the inspiration behind your collaboration?
Tommy Hilfiger (TH): New York City was a big inspiration. It’s a collaboration that brings our two worlds together - my Manhattan signature look and Romeo’s Brooklyn street style.
Romeo Hunte (RH): We celebrate the creative intersection of Tommy’s design heritage and my deconstruction technique. It was also very important to us to design a collection that challenges the status quo and that anyone can wear, so we put a strong focus on gender-neutral designs.
How did you go about designing the collection?
TH: Romeo and I share a passion for detail. We wanted to work together to design pieces that showcase great craftsmanship, exceptional fabrics and strong style elements.
RH: It was an exciting challenge to take iconic pieces from the archives and reconstruct and interpret them in a new way. What is the significance of the six boxes featured in the campaign?
RH: They symbolise the core principles of my brand, which are gender neutrality, sustainability, media and silhouette mix, transformation, prints, details and heritage. They are the foundation on which I build each collection. Why do you think fashion is an important platform for promoting inclusion?
RH: Fashion reaches into everyone’s lives, from the clothes they wear every day to the people they follow and admire. This means that brands have an incredible platform and opportunity to set a good example.
Why is mentorship so important to you?
TH: I’ve been lucky enough to learn from incredible mentors throughout my career. It’s close to my heart to pass that on. Our People’s Place mentorship programme is designed to foster a diverse community and shine a spotlight on person-of-colour talent. I’ve been supporting Romeo for over five years and see a lot of my younger self in him.
RH: Tommy has been a great mentor to me over the years. He’s incredibly supportive and I’ve learned a lot from him about the industry. He always reminds me to “dream big!” The fashion industry is already tough, but as a black designer, I have experienced that your work is often overlooked or not heard. That’s why it’s also really important to me to share my own experiences and use this platform to inspire the designers of the future and help them pursue their own dreams.