FASHION
TOMMY HILFIGER BRINGS THE FACTORY TO NEW YORK FASHION WEEK
SEPTEMBER 12, 2022
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WORDS
by KRISTOPHER FRASER & TATIJANA SHOAN
PHOTOS
COURTESY of TOMMY HILFIGER
There's no place like home, at least Tommy Hilfiger thinks so. The acclaimed American designer returned to New York Fashion Week this season, showing on Sunday, September 11th with his “Tommy Factory” fall 2022 runway show, a nod to the late great Pop Artist, Andy Warhol. The exciting atmosphere walking through the tent was palpable as we spectators made our way to our outdoor seats past barrels of brand Tommy Hilfiger “Factory” water cans and NYC 8th Street style booths hosting Instagram-able opportunities.
With dark clouds thickening above us, there was no raining on this designer’s parade even as the deluge threatened to sweep us all away. Be that as it may, that was nothing his staff didn’t quickly solve with some disposable ponchos. The sizable audience in attendance agreed, that if there was a show worth tolerating the rain for, it was Tommy Hilfiger’s. The larger-than-life runway show was held on an elevated catwalk reminiscent of a rock concert stage, fitting as the show closed with a performance by musician Travis Barker.
The show unveiled the new TH Monogram, created in collaboration with illustrator and graphic designer Fergus Purcell. It is an interesting time for logomania. Typically, during periods of inflation and economic turmoil as America is seeing, brands pull back on logos. This recession is unique though, in that people are still spending money. The choice to launch a logo during what is also seen as “the comeback” of New York Fashion Week after a pandemic lockdown and severe pandemic restrictions for the past two seasons, also speaks to the resilience of the Tommy Hilfiger brand.
The show’s elements of art and music drew inspiration from Andy Warhol’s famed NYC factory, as this collection was aptly titled, Tommy Factory. The world of collaboration extended beyond Hilfiger’s work with Purcell, notably with a collaboration with famed British designer Richard Quinn. Quinn loaned his maximalist, floral print style to a full set of collaboration pieces including sweaters, puffer jackets, leather jackets, and denim. We also saw monogrammed catsuits outfitted with leather S&M-inspired straps and top hats, British-inspired glam rock suits, and Bob Colacello in a bomber jacket.
