“It goes without saying that Tommy Hilfiger is a true gentleman and the visionary behind one of the most iconic and influential brands of our time,” said actor and entrepreneur Patrick Schwarzenegger, who presented the FNAA Lifetime Achievement Award to the American designer and philanthropist on Wednesday evening in New York City at Cipriani 25 Broadway. “For nearly four decades, Tommy has defined classic American cool style, and continues to revolutionize the fashion industry by building a global label that breaks boundaries.”
Schwarzenegger and his wife Abby Champion fronted the Tommy Hilfiger fall 2024 ad campaign, and are the stars of upcoming campaigns for the brand. It was when Schwarzenegger got more personal that one learns how down-to-earth Hilfiger is, as well as his generous nature.
“Watching him lead by example with creativity, integrity and genuine respect for everyone that’s around him is one of the greatest learning experiences that I’ve had thus far in my career. Beyond being a true visionary, Tommy’s an extraordinary partner, a mentor and a leader. He dedicates his time and his energy to projects that make a real difference in fashion, philanthropy and across culture,” the actor said.
To Schwarzenegger’s point, when Hilfiger accepted his award, his first thought was a congratulations to all of the FNAA 2025 honorees, and then he proceeded to thank his partners and collaborators for “representing my brand.” He also gave a shout out to Marc Fisher and Susan Itzkowitz of Marc Fisher Footwear “for your excellence in developing products and making our footwear business thrive.”
As for his 40 years in the business, Hilfiger said: “I’ve been able to stay in the cusp of pop culture. And what I always thought was that if I were to stay connected to pop culture and stay connected to fashion, art, music, entertainment and sports. it would power the brand.”
Hilfiger went on to note that “Footwear News has been the voice of this industry for decades, celebrating visionaries, tastemakers and risk takers. To receive this Lifetime Achievement Award, I really appreciate it.”
For Hilfiger, shoes have played — and continue to play — an important role in the growth of the Tommy Hilfiger brand. Hilfiger, who admits to being a sneaker fanatic since the age of 12, has been working with U.S. shoe partner Marc Fisher Footwear to build out a line of footwear to complement his casual lifestyle sensibility.
The designer and philanthropist also won the FNAA Collaborator of the Year Award in 2019. And as one of the premier global American brands, Hilfiger’s classic, casual American style has resonated well with consumers everywhere, catapulting the brand to worldwide retail sales, including licensing operations, of about $9 billion in 2024. The brand was acquired by PVH Corp. in 2010 for $3 billion.
Hilfiger’s energy and role in evolving his eponymous label over a 40 year period — while still retaining its core DNA of classic American cool — earns him recognition for his lifetime achievement in the shoe industry.
For 39 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2025 event is supported by Caleres, Listrak, Nordstrom, Skechers, Vibram and Wolverine Worldwide.
From left: Patrick Schwarzenegger, Tommy Hilfiger. Photo Credit:
Kristina Bumphrey