CBS has announced a new reality series, The Cut, with fashion guru Tommy Hilfiger that will pit 16 style-savvy contestants against each other in a competition to find America’s fashion trendsetter of tomorrow.

Reality Reel Media
05.31.05

Hilfiger will host the series and ultimately mentor the winner who will be awarded the opportunity to design his or her own collection under the Tommy Hilfiger label and become the next great American designer.

The 13-episode mid-season series comes to CBS from Lions Gate Television and Pilgrim Films and Television. Craig Piligian will executive produce.

The competitors will need to show their unique sense of style and creativity to prove they have the necessary tools to survive and succeed in the high-stakes fashion industry. Living together in a loft in Soho, New York, the aspiring designers will be given real fashion world challenges that will test their talent, business acumen, sales and marketing expertise, resourcefulness and style IQs. Each week, Hilfiger and his “Style Council,” which will consist of guest advisors, will rate the hopefuls on their results and cut one contestant.

“The road to success is not easy to navigate, but with hard work, drive and passion, it’s possible to achieve the American dream,” said Tommy Hilfiger. “The Cut is going to give someone the opportunity of a lifetime and help that person achieve his or her dreams.”

“What will make The Cut special is the involvement of Tommy Hilfiger. He’s a cutting-edge designer who, for the first time, will bring his All-American style to network television and provide a fantastic environment for the participants to realize their artistic dreams and visions,” said Nancy Tellem, President, CBS Entertainment. “We believe that this concept, packaged in the popular reality format, will create a program with broad appeal to viewers and numerous opportunities for advertisers.”

“A series like The Cut that encompasses the worlds of fashion, art, music and entertainment with a phenomenal brand creator like Tommy Hilfiger represents the next level of reality programming,” said Kevin Beggs, President of Programming & Production, Lions Gate Television. “We are thrilled that CBS is our network home and can’t wait to get started.”

“We created The Cut with Tommy Hilfiger specifically in mind and are delighted to be moving forward on this exciting new series,” said Craig Piligian. “Tommy is an icon to every aspiring fashion designer and each of our contestants is in for an extraordinary experience.”