September 8, 2005

CHRIS CORTEZ WINS "THE CUT" AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO DESIGN

HIS OWN FASHION LINE UNDER THE TOMMY HILFIGER LABEL

After being one of the three remaining designers, Chris Cortez emerged triumphant last night as the winner of THE CUT, and was awarded his dream come true -- the opportunity to design his own collection under the Tommy Hilfiger label, and to become the next great American designer. The decision was made by Tommy Hilfiger after the final three designers unveiled the windows they created on Seventh Ave. at Macy's Herald Square in New York City.

Chris Cortez, originally from Bridgeport, Conn., has been studying at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where he is a candidate for an MFA in graphic design. He is the first person in his family to attend college and pursue a master's degree. With over 100 pieces of Tommy clothing in his wardrobe, this is the realization of Chris' life-long goal to work for his design hero.

The 16 designers spent six weeks living together in a Manhattan Loft while they literally lived Tommy's Hilfiger's life in fast forward and competed in a series of grueling style assignments which tested their talent, business acumen, sales and marketing expertise, social skills, resourcefulness and style IQs.

The 16 designers were:

Felix Arguelles, 35, Los Angeles                        Cut 9/2
Jeff Berin, 42, Chicago                         Cut 7/20
Deanna Bonin, 23, Hollywood, Calif.                     Cut 8/26
Chris Cortez, 26, Bridgeport, Conn.
Wes Davis, 25, New Orleans                              Cut 8/26
Jessica Dereschuk, 22, Stacey, Minn.                    Cut 7/27
Vlada Drukh, 24, St. Louis                              Cut 6/16
Julie O'Connor, 37, St. Louis                           Cut 7/6
Elizabeth Saab, 30, Beverly Hills, Calif.
Amy Salinger, 26, Chicago                               Cut 6/9 
Chris Sherrill, 25, Nashville, Tenn.                    Cut 6/23
Shauna Storey, 39, New Orleans                  Cut 8/12
Rob Walker, 35, Brooklyn, N.Y.                  Cut 8/5
Tommy Walton, 42, Chicago                               Cut 6/30
Princess Warren, 22, Philadelphia
James Wolfe, 27, San Diego                              Cut 7/13

Photos are available on www.cbspressexpress.com.

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Press Contacts:         Karin Failla            323/575-4269       karin.failla@tvc.cbs.com
                                Phoebe Glassner 212/975-3148       pglassner@cbs.com

Tommy Hilfiger:         Heidi Kang              212/548-1659       hkang@tommy-usa.com