The Meaning and Evolution of the Tommy Hilfiger Logo

A few words about Tommy Hilfiger and his company

Tommy Hilfiger is a brand of American origin. Thomas Hilfiger's first project, better known as Tommy Hilfiger, was initially a chain of clothing stores he co-founded in the late 1960s. Unfortunately, less than ten years later, it was a failure. Tommy then moved to New York with the idea of becoming a fashion designer.

It was finally in the 1980s that Tommy Hilfiger launched his first collection. The designer stood out with his casual men's clothing. In the 1990s, because the brand was a great success, they diversified. Tommy Hilfiger started making women's clothing, shoes, and accessories.

To stand out, the brand would work with several celebrities to promote their products and new collections, including Beyoncé. Today, the Tommy Hilfiger brand is sold around the world and is worth a few billion dollars.

Tommy Hilfiger's logo

Have you ever noticed that luxury or fashion-related brands almost never change their logo? The Tommy Hilfiger brand is no exception. The basic logo of Tommy Hilfiger is almost the same as in their early days. There have been no major redesigns during its existence.

This logo is relatively simple. It is composed of two blue rectangular bars, with two rectangles in the center, one white and one red. The blue used here is dark sapphire and the red is called crimson. Do you know the meaning of these colors and shapes? As you can imagine, nothing is a coincidence. The use of a white rectangle with a red rectangle has a special meaning in the nautical world. It is the international maritime flag that represents the letter H, the first letter of the name Hilfiger. The nautical world has always been one of Tommy Hilfiger’s first inspirations.

A second flag was also used as inspiration for Tommy Hilfiger's logo, the American flag. As the Tommy Hilfiger brand was founded in the United States, the designer wanted to show their origin directly on the logo.

Finally, depending on the version, the name Tommy Hilfiger appears in capital letters with the symbol part of the logo. The font chosen here is Gill Sans, a simple yet modern sans serif font.

The evolution of the Tommy Hilfiger brand

What helped Tommy Hilfiger make his brand known was to use his logo everywhere, whether for advertisements or directly on clothing. It is not uncommon to see accessories or sweaters where the Tommy Hilfiger logo is proudly displayed, even taking up all the available space. This has been highly instrumental in making the brand recognizable. In addition, the Tommy Hilfiger logo stands out from other more luxurious brands, as very few brands related to fashion have chosen to use shapes in this way.

As mentioned, the Tommy Hilfiger brand logo hasn't changed much since the 1980s. However, since it is a relatively flexible logo, there have been various combinations over time. Sometimes the company only uses the symbol part of the logo, which looks good on the web or on labels for clothing. Otherwise, in one of the versions, the symbol is present between Tommy and Hilfiger. In some products, the name is added to the right or below, while other times the mention of Tommy Hilfiger is added directly in the rectangular bars of the symbol. It is essential to consider the layout of the components when creating a logo.

How to be inspired by the Tommy Hilfiger logo?

So how can you be inspired by Tommy Hilfiger to create your logo? First, as with this creator, feel free to use shapes. Tommy Hilfiger's logo is relatively simple, but by juxtaposing rectangles of various sizes, he created the symbol we know today. Do you know the meaning of shapes? For example, vertical lines like the ones used here can mean always wanting to do better.

Second, Tommy Hilfiger isn't the only company that was inspired by where they came from when creating their logo. Like BMW, Tommy Hilfiger knew how to use colors in connection with his region, his homeland of origin. This element can certainly serve as inspiration and help you stand out from the competition.

Finally, you have probably noticed that most logos related to luxury and fashion are relatively simple. Whether it's the Chanel logo or Tesla's, you have to be able to send a message with as few details as possible. It is therefore necessary to choose each component sparingly. When it comes to fonts, it's up to you. Serif fonts can give a serious and high-end touch, however more and more brands are choosing a sans serif font for their refined and modern side. 

In conclusion, there is a good chance that the Tommy Hilfiger logo will be the same for several years to come. It is a relatively simple logo that has become recognizable, the company is not afraid to display it directly on their products. Do you want to use squares or rectangles when creating your logo? Take the time to find out why you should use this shape and its various meanings before making your choice.