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Elmira College students learning the business of fashion recently had a chance to interact with and learn from leading fashion industry representatives during two panel discussions. In attendance was Tommy Hilfiger, the founder of his namesake brand, and his siblings Andy and Betsy Hilfiger.
The first panel focused on sustainability in the fashion industry and was part of the Worldwide Teach-In on Climate and Justice event on March 29. The second panel, on March 30, was part of the EC Business & Economics Division Professional Panel Virtual Series and gave EC Business Administration students a chance to ask for advice from industry leaders.
“One thing that I love about small schools is the intimate relationships,” said Steven Webster ’26, a Business Administration major in the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Business School program. “In a bigger program, you wouldn’t get to have your questions answered by someone famous.”
“It was great to speak with Tommy Hilfiger and the other professionals casually,” continued Webster. “I want to be a creative director and it's valuable to hear from people who’ve done the hard work.”
Although the format for each panel was slightly different, the idea behind both panels was similar. Students posed questions and panelists took turns responding and weighing in on the topics.
In the first panel, which was recorded, the questions were focused on learning about the measures fashion industry leaders are taking to adopt sustainable practices like sourcing renewable or recycled materials and reducing energy consumption.
Emily Guardado ’26, a Business Administration major in the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Business School program, was among the students to pose a question to the sustainability panel.
“I asked what measures their businesses are taking to ensure they are becoming environmentally friendly,” she said. “All of the panel members had so much to contribute. They were from the same industry but had different perspectives. Marge Pietrera from Fashion Index shared how their company uses a QR code in the design of their garments to track the outfit’s lifespan, which is a really cool concept.”
In the second panel, the questions were more personal. For example, Alexandra Stilo ’26, a Business Administration major in the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Business School program, asked the panel members what inspired them to get into the fashion industry.
Tommy Hilfiger responded, “I fell into it. I really was not excited about moving into the real world. I wanted to do something I loved, first maybe even doing it as a hobby. I thought if I did something that I loved, waking up every day would not be like real work, it would be a pleasure. So I was interested in fashion in high school. A couple of friends and I put together $150 each. We bought 20 pairs of bell-bottom jeans in New York City, we opened a small shop in Elmira, New York called People’s Place, and the rest is history.”
“So for any of you students who are thinking about what to do in the future, I think you have to do what you love,” he continued.
“Tommy Hilfiger’s response was perfect, I was smiling the entire time,” Stilo reflected a couple of days after the session. “I grew up hearing from my parents and grandmother that you should do what you love. Hearing him say it was special and made me confident about following my heart and pursuing what I want to do after college.”
March 29 "Sustainability in the Fashion Industry: Where is it heading?" Panel:
March 30 Business of Fashion Professionals Panelists: