American fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger has selected Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce to star in his Fall 2026 campaign at New York Fashion Week.
Hilfiger revealed details about the partnership during an exclusive interview on Live From E! Stream: Tommy Hilfiger Spring 2027 Runway Show. He explained that he brought together familiar faces for an all-star team to usher in a new chapter before debuting his Spring 2027 collection on Sept. 10 at The Plaza Hotel in Manhattan.
Speaking to journalists Lindsay Weinberg and Kristina Behr, the 75-year-old designer praised Kelce for taking center stage in the campaign and bringing a serious passion for style to his wardrobe.
"Travis Kelce is the ultimate superstar American athlete, he is friendly, he's fun," Hilfiger said. "But when he dresses, he's serious. He really likes fashion."
Hilfiger noted that Kelce remains ahead of fashion trends by blending traditional prep with modern street style. "When he's wearing his camel coat and his hoodie, that's classic and modern. He's wearing the varsity jacket, that's classic and modern," Hilfiger said of the campaign looks. "He's wearing variations on all of our preppy classics. He makes them look great."
Kelce is an American football tight end who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League. A multi-time Super Bowl champion, he has increasingly established himself as a high-profile figure in entertainment, pop culture, and commercial endorsements.
The Fall 2026 campaign also stars supermodel Gigi Hadid, who co-stars alongside Kelce, the husband of her close friend Taylor Swift. Hilfiger lauded Hadid's energy and long standing presence with the fashion house.
"Gigi is the quintessential Tommy girl," Hilfiger told E!. "She's All-American, she's sporty, she's fun, she's friendly. Everything and anything any designer would want opening the runway show."
Hilfiger emphasized his close bond with the model ahead of the upcoming presentation. "We have an amazing relationship," he added. "She's Tommy Hilfiger family." Hadid is scheduled to model the Spring 2027 collection during the showcase on Sept. 10.
Hadid is an internationally recognized American model who has featured on cover pages across global publications and previously launched collaborative fashion lines with Hilfiger's label.
Spring 2027 runway collection
Hilfiger explained that his upcoming Spring 2027 lineup takes direct inspiration from New York's finest cultural elements. The collection reimagines the brand's heritage designs that have defined its aesthetic over the past 40 years.
"It's a remix of the preppy classics we've been doing for four decades," Hilfiger explained. "What I wanted to do was evolve it, make it current for today, make it fun, colorful and full of surprises."
The designer revealed that the new lineup brings back historic branding alongside its traditional logo. "We're bringing back our original crest embroidery," Hilfiger noted. "The flag is, of course, our corporate logo, but the crest is really a new addition."
Founded in 1985, Tommy Hilfiger is a global fashion enterprise recognized for its classic American cool design philosophy, featuring red, white, and blue logo motifs on premium sportswear and apparel.
The Plaza Hotel venue experience
For the New York Fashion Week event, Hilfiger is stepping away from traditional runway formats in favor of an interactive experience filled with celebrity guests, influencers, and unannounced musical performances.
"This season is going to be very exciting for us because we're not coming on a runway," Hilfiger shared. "We're coming into an experience, not only for the clothes, but for the amount of influencers we have, the celebrities we have, the models we have. The music is a surprise."
The event is hosted at The Plaza Hotel in New York City, a location where Hilfiger formerly lived for several years alongside his wife, Dee Ocleppo. "It's at the iconic Plaza Hotel in New York City," Hilfiger added. "We're taking over."
The Plaza Hotel is a luxury landmark building situated at Manhattan's Central Park South and Fifth Avenue. New York Fashion Week takes place semi-annually each February and September, drawing international buyers, media, and designers to preview upcoming seasonal clothing lines.
The Tommy Hilfiger Spring 2027 runway show debuts on Sept. 10 at The Plaza Hotel, with complete updates accessible through the E! News App.
