Fashion mogul Tommy Hilfiger features on a reality series called "The Cut" on CBS. In the 13-episode series produced by Lions Gate Television and Pilgrim Films and Television, Hilfiger looks for the next great American designer.
But the man does not believe that The Cut is only about designing great clothes, "In designing a lifestyle brand, you have to know more than just designing clothes. It's about designing advertising, designing for celebrities. It's about pop culture fame, fashion, art, music, entertainment. It is about designing for hip-hop stars, rock stars, celebrities, and really having the social skills and vision to do it," Hilfiger explains.
Hilfiger says that the new show is not a take on Bravo's hit “Project Runway," "‘Project Runway' was about designing clothes,” Hilfiger said. "This isn't just about designing clothes. This is about designing way beyond that." The show has 16 contestants who are to be subjected to a variety of designing tests before one of them is chosen as the man/woman to design clothes under the Hilfiger brand, "That's never been done before. This person is going to receive a $250,000 salary from my company; have the opportunity to design his or her own collection of products, which we'll put out into the stores, and actually have a great time doing it," Hilfiger says.
The first assignment for these 16 contenders is to design a billboard on Times Square. It will be easy to recall how Hilfiger angered the fashion community back in 1986, when he got a billboard installed in New York comparing himself to Ralph Lauren, Perry Ellis and Calvin Klein.
"Advertising and marketing in clothing and apparel is as important as anything else. First, you need a great designer. But after that, you have to advertise it in a unique way. I started out with a big billboard on Times Square before anyone knew who I was," Hilfiger admits cheekily.
He does come across as a megalomaniac in the first episode when he says, "If you've ever turned on TV, opened a magazine or gone shopping, you know who I am. I am me. I can't change that. I believe I'm very fair. I'm serious about the business. I love creativity. I also love thinking outside the box. I don't really tolerate any backstabbing or negative behavior because, at the end of the day, the person I'm choosing from all this has got to help guide my company to the next level."
Regarding the first challenge that was given to the contestants, Hilfiger says that it was very dangerous work, "And of course, with 16 contestants living in the same loft in New York City, there is a lot of backstabbing, a lot of cat fighting," he said.
But he is confident that he will find that special someone among this group, "CBS did all of the casting for me. I thought, 'Let's see what this is like.' In fact, they're all so talented it was hard for me to eliminate on a weekly basis. But there are some superstars there. And at the end, we will find one. And this person will have a great opportunity to be America's next great designer," Hilfiger says.
While the first episode was no great shakes, we'll reserve judgment until the next few ones to decide if Hilfiger has got the roguish charm of Donald Trump. Until then, fingers crossed.
