If you needed any more proof that Lewis Hamilton is an incredible force in the racing world and beyond, not even two days after a near-death Formula 1 crash in Italy he stepped onto the Met Gala red carpet in New York on Monday to promote emerging Black fashion designers.
The theme of this year’s Met Gala was “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” centered on American style and independence.
Tables at the Met run upwards of $30,000 and typically major designers or fashion houses will buy them and invite the celebrities they’re dressing for the night, making it difficult for up-and-coming designers and stars to make an impact at the event, which is referred to as “fashion’s biggest night.” That makes what Hamilton did especially powerful: The seven-time world champion bought his own table and invited four young Black designers as his guests.
After the Gala’s red carpet livestream ended, Vogue played a video with Hamilton talking more about his table and his work in the fashion world. “We’re living in a time where diversity and inclusion is so important and that’s something I’m fighting for in my industry,” he said.
Earlier this year Hamilton started the Mission 44 foundation to “champion and empower young people from underrepresented groups” in the UK and he also launched his own Hamilton Commission as well as the Ignite joint program with Mercedes to increase diversity in F1 specifically.
Talking about his work in F1 and how it influenced him to purchase the table, Hamilton said, “I realized it’s very similar within the fashion industry. A lot of brands, young designers don’t have the same opportunities and the Met is the biggest fashion event of the year. In this theme, I wanted to create something that was meaningful and it’s something that will start and spark a conversation. When people see us all together, it will put these Black designers at the top of peoples’ minds.”
Hamilton is no stranger to the Met Gala, or the world of fashion in general — this was his sixth appearance at the Met since 2015. He’s collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger many times, is a frequent guest at fashion week runway shows and is rumored to be one of the investors who bought W magazine. Not to mention all the streetwear looks he serves in the F1 paddock on a weekly basis.
Hamilton is no stranger to the Met Gala, or the world of fashion in general — this was his sixth appearance at the Met since 2015. He’s collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger many times, is a frequent guest at fashion week runway shows and is rumored to be one of the investors who bought W magazine. Not to mention all the streetwear looks he serves in the F1 paddock on a weekly basis.
