Tommy Hilfiger talks collaborating with Clarence Ruth and Formula 1
The American designer has teamed up with Clarence Ruth and Formula One for a capsule collection of high speed proportions
Tommy Hilfiger loves a collaboration. In the past the American designer has tapped the likes of British designer Martine Rose, actor Zendaya, world racing champion Lewis Hamilton and even Coca-Cola to breathe new life into the clothes that have made his brand a household name since the Nineties.
And now, with the summer of sport in full swing, he has dropped a collaboration with the Formula One. The Tommy Hilfiger and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One limited edition collection was designed in partnership with Clarence Ruth, a New York City-based artist and designer, who heads up his own label Cotte D’Armes. The collection merges Hilfiger's signature prep with the cutting-edge vision of Mercedes, all thought up by Ruth. Rugby shirts sit alongside football jerseys and sweatshirts, all emblazoned with the collaborative logos. One care label-inspired print resembles the dashboard of a Formula One car, while each piece comes printed with Cotte D'Armes wording.
The Tommy Hilfiger X Mercedes-AMG F1 X Clarence Ruth collaboration launched at the Barcelona Grand Prix last weekend and was worn by Mercedes-AMG Formula One Team drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who also star in the campaign. Gentleman's Journal sat down with Tommy Hilfiger and Clarence Ruth ahead of the launch...
Tommy, you have a strong relationship with the F1. What prompted that?
Tommy Hilfiger: Since the '90s, I've proudly sponsored Formula 1 teams and remain fascinated by the sport's constant evolution. Grand Prix weekends have become a melting pot of pop culture, where celebrities flock to race days, making them the pinnacle of the sporting calendar. This year we became a sponsor of the F1 Academy – the series that champions fearless female drivers. I’m excited that the sport is continuing to develop and expand its horizons and can’t wait to see what the future holds.
What is it about Clarence that made you want to work with him? How did you discover his work?
Tommy Hilfiger: From the moment we met Clarence during the New Legacy Challenge — a design competition within our People’s Place Program in partnership with Harlem’s Fashion Row — we recognised his exceptional creative talent. His ability to reinterpret our classic design codes and brand DNA with remarkable creativity and vision stood out. I was so excited that we could put him behind the driver’s seat with this collection, offering his unique perspective on a collaboration between two iconic brands
How did you work with Clarence?
Tommy Hilfiger: Clarence has been a pleasure to collaborate with because he thrives on pushing boundaries. With his background in tailored clothing, delving into sportswear was a fresh challenge for him. He was so considered in his approach bringing his fashion-forward perspective to our classics with new ideas that remained true to our brand. He’s a great designer with a big future.
Clarence, why did you want to work with Tommy?
Clarence Ruth: Tommy Hilfiger has been such an important mentor and tremendous inspiration to me. He is the person who inspired me to pursue design. I remember growing up and wearing Tommy Jeans. At the time, Tommy was one of the only designers with models of colour in his fashion shows. This was amazing to me and showed me the importance of representation. To be able to see someone who looked like me on a runway was incredible.
The Tommy flag in particular was always a symbol of fashion and something that I have always liked about the brand. It is iconic, timeless, and classic Tommy. I knew I wanted to create something in this collaboration and partnership that would emulate that sense of timelessness. I knew this was the team I wanted to reimagine classic sports silhouettes with.
What was the design process like?
Clarence Ruth: Although I have a background in crafting tailored pieces, my approach in designing this collection was to follow my instincts and lean into my creative intuition. This collection is inspired by both the Year of Sport and my own personal style growing up. I am a huge fan of jerseys and T-shirts in general. I love the creative possibilities in each of these categories. I wanted to do something recognisable but with a bit more unanticipated features in terms of design and function.
What were your inspirations for the partnership?
Clarence Ruth: It was exciting for me to combine the identity for each brand together harmoniously. For Tommy that means classic, prep, heritage. For Mercedes it means innovation, technology and a spirit of competition. For my brand, Cotte D’Armes, it means thinking-outside-the-box, functionality and practicality. I wanted to truly emphasise sport within this collection. When designing each piece, it was important for authenticity to be fully present. Logos and branding were intentionally placed exactly where they would naturally be on a proper jersey or jacket. Functionality was also crucial. I wanted each garment to have multiple purposes or be multi-use to give even more options to the consumer.
Tommy, fashion and sport have a history of going hand in hand, what're some of your favourite F1 fashion moments?
Tommy Hilfiger: I’m proud that we have a legacy of breaking conventions within Formula 1, planning disruptive partnership activations and designing collections inspired by the track. We have a long history with the incredible Lewis Hamilton who we have created five collaborations with. I can never forget the show we put on together with Lewis at the Shanghai Bund in 2018. There were 1000 guests and Hailey Bieber opened the show – it was one for the books.
Clarence, what's your own relationship with the F1?
Clarence Ruth: My personal connection with Formula One is following and watching the legacy of Lewis Hamilton as a driver and as a person. His ambition and drive for positive social change is tremendous. Meeting him in person and working with him on this project solidified my impression of him. I especially admire that he collaborates with numerous brands including minority designers. He creates a platform for new talent and uplifts their creations on a global stage. He adds an additional layer of excitement to race day by making audiences anticipate what he will be wearing to the track. He has truly made this moment for F1.
In addition to being a style icon, he is a philanthropist, an advocate and an inspiration for future generations. He is creating space and opportunity for inclusion within the sport. He continues to inspire people that just because you do not see yourself in a sport or a field, does not mean that you cannot do it.
Want more fashion? Check out the best Spring/Summer 2025 collections from Milan Fashion Week
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