Fashion - Interview
Interview with Fashion Designer and Musician Andy Hilfiger about Andrew Charles
Fashion - Interview
by Beren Dere
I had the chance to do an interview with Fashion Designer and Musician Andy Hilfiger, Founder and Designer of Rock'n'Roll-Inspired Fashion Brand Andrew Charles. This interview is about Andy Hilfiger, Rock'n'Roll and Fashion.
Andy, it must be very difficult to choose one to continue for the rest of your life if you are very talented in both Rock'n'Roll and fashion design. But you successfully managed this situation and combined your skills throughout your career. How did you find to right way to keep both of them in your life?
I married the two of them by doing so, I turned Tommy Jeans from a clothing company to a media company.
What does Rock'n'Roll means for you?
To me, rock ’n’ roll means energy. It’s all about the vibe that makes you feel good, to me, that’s real rock ’n’ roll.
When did you first decide to become a fashion designer? What or who inspired you?
I always wanted to create the things that I liked and I wanted to be able to give it to the consumer. But as far as true fashion design, my brother Tommy and sister, Ginny, inspired me at a young age with their visions for design.
What was your first step into the music and fashion world?
I started playing music live when I was 14 years old, at the same time I also started working a retail job at my brother, Tommy’s first store, The Peoples Place, which to me has always represented my life marrying music and fashion.
What has been changed in the fashion industry and your vision over the years from your first step to now?
My vision over the years has always been that fashion is an expression of how you put together your individuality. It’s the same in music when rockstars choose to wear cool clothes on stage. It’s all about how you put your look together.
Before you established your own label, who were you worked with and what kind of projects you were done?
I started working at Tommy Hilfiger where my job was product placement. My goal was to dress the hottest rap, rock and movie stars in Hilfiger gear to help elevate the brand.
Andrew Charles by Andy Hilfiger
How did you decide to establish Andrew Charles by Andy Hilfiger?
I always surrounded myself with great people and business partners which eventually lead me to launch my own brand called Andrew Charles with Steven Tyler, from Aerosmith, as the face of the brand.
Could you tell us about Andrew Charles and overall concept?
The overall concept for Andrew Charles is expressing the marriage of music and fashion. When we started I chose a guitar pick with a red star in it as our logo. The star actually came from the music label that I had in 1998 with Quincy Jones.
What are the characteristics of your apparel collection?
Andrew Charles is all about great fitting apparel. We make everything from t-shirts, to jeans, to outerwear, even handbags, home furnishings, and jewelry. All of our goods are the highest quality.
Andy Hilfiger and Kim Hilfiger. Photo credit Cedeno Photography
You have been offered two different collections such as Home and Jewelry. What do the concepts of these collections reflect?
My wife, Kim, is the creative director of the home and jewelry line and we both agreed that we wanted a full lifestyle line. My father, Richard, was a jeweler, so I always had a desire to incorporate fine jewelry into our brand. By staying true to our brand’s DNA, we were able to do both home and jewelry that embody the same ideas.
What is next for Andrew Charles?
We’re hoping to do some more pop-up stores around the world. Our first pop-up shop was in the CBGB Gallery in NYC, where we had different musicians come and perform once a week, I’d like to more events like that!
Do you still continue your rock'n’roll career?
I still play shows with various bands in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, in fact, this weekend I’ll be playing a magazine party in the Hamptons. I always make sure my bandmates look great, dressed in Andrew Charles gear from head to toe.
Could you suggest five albums for our reader's better sense of rock'n’roll culture?
What is the best advice you have ever received, and what advice would you give to young fashion designers?
The best advice I’ve ever received was “Follow your heart,” I try to do that everyday. The best advice I would give to a young fashion designer is be nice to everybody, also something I try to do every day.
What is the importance of social media for you? How can our readers follow you and Andrew Charles by Andy Hilfiger?
Social media has become an amazing way for brands to reach consumers. My customers can follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/andrewcharlesnewyork and on Instagram at @andrewcharlesnewyork.
Where can our readers see and buy your designs?
All of our collections can be purchased at www.andyhilfiger.com
Thank you Andy for your time and answers.
For more information, please visit website of Andrew Charles by Andy Hilfiger
This interview was conducted in a Question-and-Answer format. The answers were checked for grammar and punctuation and published without any additional editing. Monday, July 30, 2018. All photos are the property of their respective owners.