Fashion Wire Daily - New York Tommy Hilfiger has signed David Bowie and his wife Iman as the models for the launch advertising campaign of his new H Hilfiger collection debuting in Spring 2004. "David Bowie and Iman bring everything I’m looking for to represent this brand – music, style, elegance, creativity, sophistication – they’re a living testament to all that influences and inspires me," said Hilfiger.
The move marks the latest union of Tommy with the gods of rock, from his sponsorship of The Rolling Stones “No Security” tour and Lenny Kravitz’s 32-city “Freedom” tour, to Tommy Jeans for Britney Spears, and Tommy Hilfiger for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute exhibition, entitled Rock Style.
"David is not only a rock ‘n’ roll legend and a true artist, he’s also a style icon whose evolving look over the years has had a huge impact on the world of fashion and music. And Iman, in addition to being the ultimate supermodel and a style icon in her own right, is the ideal woman - smart, entrepreneurial, chic, beautiful, ambitious and creative… I am honored to feature them in my new campaign," Hilfiger added.
The campaign will mark the debut campaign for the Thin White Duke and the first time he and his supermodel wife have appeared together in the same ads.
Ellen von Unwerth shot the campaign in the Amsterdam’s famed five-star Amstel Hotel on October 14. Due to break in April issues of US men’s and women’s magazines, the fashion house has budgeted $10 million for the campaign which supports the launch of H Hilfiger, the brand's new pinnacle line, seen by Tommy as the sophisticated and refined top collection among his house’s diverse product offerings.
"I very much admire Tommy's ability to weave so many influences into his work. Iman and I are thrilled to be working with him,” said Bowie who was photographed between stops on his sold out European “Reality” tour promoting his new CD by the same name. The tour reaches North America December 6, the U.S. and Canadian dates encompassing 20-plus cities.
“I’m very taken by Tommy’s new H Hilfiger line. And working with both David and Ellen Von Unwerth on this project is a real plus, and such a lot of fun,” added Iman.
A Somali-born model known for her charitable work and devotion to many AIDS, world hunger relief and children's charities, Iman has appeared on scores of magazines covers and catwalks and has featured in occasional film roles, most notably in “Out of Africa.”
Her advertising work, however, has not been without controversy. Last year, she was the target of Third World activists’ attacks for her role as spokes model of De Beers LV. In October 2002, supporters of the Kalahari 'Bushmen' went so far as to cover up posters of Iman at De Beers LV flagship London store's site with an image of a Bushman bearing the slogan, "The Bushmen Aren't Forever," after Botswana's government relocated thousands of them in a game reserve filled with diamond mines from which De Beers was supplied.
