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.