In this tale of grit and glamour setbacks and comebacks business and pop culture icon Tommy
Hilfiger shares his extraordinary life story for the first time. Few designers have stayed on
top of changing trends the way Tommy Hilfiger has. Fewer still have left such an indelible mark
on global culture. Since designing his first collection of classics with a twist three decades
ago Tommy Hilfiger has been synonymous with all-American style-but his destiny wasn't always
so clear. Growing up one of nine children in a working-class family in Elmira New York Tommy
suffered from dyslexia flunked sophomore year of high school and found himself constantly at
odds with his father. Nevertheless this self-described dreamer had a vision and the relentless
will to make it a reality. At eighteen he opened his own clothing store parlaying his uncanny
instinct for style into a budding career as a fashion designer. Through decades of triumph and
turmoil Tommy remained doggedly optimistic. To this day his approach to commerce is rooted in
his positive view of the world. American Dreamer brims with anecdotes that cover Tommy's years
as a club kid and scrappy entrepreneur in 1970s New York as well as unique insights into the
exclusive A-list personalities with whom he's collaborated and interacted from Mick Jagger and
David Bowie to Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. But this is more than just a fashion icon's
memoir-it's a road map for building a brand both professionally and personally. Tommy takes us
behind the scenes of every decision-and every mistake-he's ever made offering advice on
leadership business team-building and creativity. This is the story of a true American
original told for the first time in his own words with honesty humor and the insatiable
appetite for life and style that proves that sometimes you have to dream big to make it big.
Praise for American Dreamer A unique look into the fashion world . . . an honest
straightforward mostly entertaining autobiography of the man who created a classic yet hip
line of clothing.-Kirkus Reviews Fashionistas and business gurus alike will glean important
lessons from Hilfiger's rags-to-riches rag-trade story.-Booklist Tommy burst onto the fashion
scene at the height of hip-hop and was instantly taken up by rappers and rockers alike. Since
then year after year he has been ahead of the curve with his elegant and stylish looks. His
creative energy has always been an inspiration to me. He's really himself in American
Dreamer.-Mick Jagger In American Dreamer Tommy shows how he has taken the (rock) stars and the
(preppy) stripes and come up with a look-and a label-that are recognized globally as being
quintessentially American as well as a brand that constantly keeps time with pop music.-Anna
Wintour Tommy is an inspiration to many people. American Dreamer shows how he has managed to be
successful in business and done so with integrity.-David Beckham Tommy is one of the most
genuine people I know! In American Dreamer you can feel his passion pour through everything he
does: fashion fatherhood family and friendship!-Alicia Keys Tommy Hilfiger is an American
icon who was able to transcend fashion and blend it with pop culture and take it to a worldwide
audience. American Dreamer documents how unlike any other designer Tommy was able to tap into
music its subculture and its influence on society.-Tommy Mottola
