Tommy Hilfiger's dyslexia motivated him to build his brand

Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger says his dyslexia inspired him to build his fashion brand. The 65-year-old fashion designer, who launched his clothing range in 1985, said his inability to read well and feeling like dumb in school, is the reason why he started THE luxury fashion house at the age of 17, reported Femalefirst.

“I did it as a result of my inability to read well. I actually didn’t realize I was dyslexic until later on in life, but I thought when I was in school that I was just one of the dumb ones. I felt like I was not going to succeed  and I think it probably motivated me to think of what else I could do.

“I came to the conclusion when I was 17 that I should be in business,” Hilfiger said. The fashion mogul started to fund his business by running his first shop from the boot of his car.

“I drove five hours to New York City and I bought 20 pairs of bell-bottom jeans on the streets in the Village. I took them back to my school parking lot, sold them to my friends out of the trunk of my car, and with the profits I opened my first shop and my business started taking off,” he said.