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Tommy Hilfiger is one of my favorite brands for men’s polo shirts since they look great, and the material seems durable in my experience. But is that enough to charge more? Why is Tommy Hilfiger so expensive?
Tommy Hilfiger founded Tommy Hilfiger Corporation (now Tommy Hilfiger B.V.) in 1985, and the group was acquired in March 2010 by PVH Corp (also owns Calvin Klein). In 2019 the brand made approximately $9.2 billion in sales.
I don’t consider Tommy Hilfiger a luxury brand because it’s affordable (just not for everyone), but I do believe the brand is premium due to the quality of its products that I think are great. In addition, it’s not near as expensive as brands like Gucci or Tom Ford, but pricier when compared to Zara or H&M.
Read: What Is The Difference Between Tommy Jeans and Tommy Hilfiger?
Let’s find out why Tommy Hilfiger is so expensive.
Why Is Tommy Hilfiger So Expensive?
Tommy Hilfiger is an expensive brand due to five reasons. It’s a premium brand, provides great and durable quality products, shows wealth and status because not everyone can buy the brand, is the classic American cool style pioneer, and celebrities wear Tommy Hilfiger on some significant global events.
Tommy Hilfiger Is A Premium Brand
Tommy Hilfiger is considered a premium brand because not everyone can afford to buy multiple pieces of its clothing every month. Some customers can only buy one piece per month, and some not even that.
When I was a store manager for Skechers, I could afford to pay all my bills and buy some Tommy Hilfiger items every month, but when I was a sales assistant, that was not happening. Paying over $100 for a men’s polo shirt or $20 on some cheaper brands makes a difference on someone’s salary every month. That’s the difference between luxury, high-end, or mass-market brands.
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When a brand is perceived as premium and costs more, its higher price makes the customer feel like they are wearing better clothing. You will feel more expensive and more prosperous with a Hilfiger polo than a GAP one. The higher the price, the better it must be and vice versa.
Tommy Hilfiger Provides Great Quality Products
All my Tommy Hilfiger clothing has lasted for years with casual wearing when I go out, travel, or go somewhere with family and friends. I didn’t use them every single day, and that’s why they probably lasted so long (I still have the most part, in excellent conditions). Also, a lot of Tommy Hilfiger products are manufactured in China, which could be seen as worse quality, but the material is great.
In my opinion, Tommy Hilfiger is not expensive because its products are made of materials like cotton, wool, or polyester. However, they are more costly because the American brand is trying to become more eco-friendly and sustainable.
Purchasing sustainable and eco-friendly items is more expensive than the regular ones you usually see in mass-market stores. That’s because you are paying the difference in costs with a standard manufacturing process and environmentally responsible one.
Read: Why Is Calvin Klein So Expensive?
Tommy Hilfiger has an eco-friendly message that says, “Wastes Nothing and Welcomes All.” Since the fashion world is still adapting to be more eco-friendly, it’s not a surprise that brands charge more for their products since they had to allocate more money on new manufacturing machines and costly sustainable materials.
Tommy Hilfiger Shows Wealth and Status
Why Is Tommy Hilfiger so expensive? Because whoever wears the brand is part of a group of people that are considered wealthy. As I said before, not everyone can afford Tommy Hilfiger products.
Wearing Tommy Hilfiger clothes also says that you have some status and are not considered poor. It shows you can afford all your bills and still have money to spend on other things like clothing, traveling, eating out, etc.
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Since we live in a world where people perceive status more and more, the price of products keeps increasing because the brands know people will buy their products to show to others. I personally buy Tommy Hilfiger men’s polo shirts because I like the brand.
Tommy Hilfiger Is Patriotic
Tommy Hilfiger is a famous brand and the pioneer of classic American cool style. It shows the wearer as fashionable, fun, outgoing, and has a positive attitude towards life. However, people want to show they are part of the American brand, and since demand exists, the products can be more expensive.
Read: Why Are Timberlands So Expensive?
Many people buy Tommy Hilfiger products because the brand is American and brings the classic American cool style. It’s all about tradition for some people, and Americans are very patriotic.
If you pay attention to the color scheme of the Tommy Hilfiger logo (blue, red, and white), you realize that they are the same colors as the American flag. Coincidence? Absolutely not. The designer wanted to emphasize the brand’s American heritage and show that quality is synonymous with American.
Celebrities Wear Tommy Hilfiger
Celebrities bring awareness and build hype for a brand. This will influence people to buy a specific brand since they tend to follow what celebrities wear.
Gigi Hadid is one of the most famous ambassadors of the American brand, with her collection being a tremendous success. Taylor Swift ended up wearing a dress from that collection that sold out pretty quickly.
Another collaboration that received a lot of attention was the Lewis Hamilton collection, which got many positive reviews.
If customers identify themselves with these celebrities, they will pay for the same clothes they wear. That’s why Tommy Hilfiger can charge more for its products.
Common Questions About Why Is Tommy Hilfiger So Expensive
These are some of the most common questions about why is Tommy Hilfiger so expensive.
What Is The Most Expensive Tommy Hilfiger Item?
At the moment, in August 2021, the most item on Tommy Hilfiger’s website is a dual-gender biker trench coat for $1,235. I am pretty sure some items from exclusive collections had been sold for much more money, but I couldn’t find anything about it.
Why Is Tommy Hilfiger So Expensive In Europe?
When I visited New York City, I did notice that Tommy Hilfiger is cheaper there and more expensive in Europe. This might be because the brand has many outlets (more affordable than the leading stores) in the US, and it’s available in stores like Macy’s and Sears. In addition, the taxes related to trade, customs, transportation, and local government can affect the products’ prices in different countries.
Read: Where Is Calvin Klein Made?
Is Tommy Hilfiger Still Popular?
Yes, Tommy Hilfiger is popular among men and women, as the Gigi Hadid collection showed. The sales have also been growing each year.
Is Tommy Hilfiger A Luxury Brand?
No, Tommy Hilfiger is not a luxury brand, but it is a premium brand. I don’t consider Tommy Hilfiger luxury because those are brands that some people will never afford. The American brand is expensive, but a bigger group of people can purchase.
Conclusion
Tommy Hilfiger is an iconic American fashion brand that has been around for decades. The brand provides quality products, a premium feel, and is patriotic. It’s no wonder why Americans wear the brand with pride!
If you want to show wealth and status without breaking your bank account, then look for an affordable high-end designer like Tommy Hilfiger that will give you just as much quality but won’t make it impossible for you to live comfortably in other aspects of your life.
Read: Why Is Ralph Lauren So Expensive?
What is your opinion? Why is Tommy Hilfiger so expensive? Share with me in the comments.
