Lewis Hamilton bought a Met Gala table for emerging Black fashion designers – Roadshow [CNET]

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Red carpet host Keke Palmer asked Hamilton how his outfit tied into this year’s theme, and he said that he felt “really, really fortunate” that Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour agreed to host his table. “I’ve brought four incredible, young, Black talented designers,” he said, “so we’ve got a great host of people tonight, and it’s about just highlighting beauty and excellence and talent.”

Accompanying Hamilton was American designer Kenneth Nicholson, who created a custom suit complete with a lace calf-length shirt. In an Instagram post, Hamilton said Nicholson’s “craftsmanship and point of view advances menswear in truly inspiring ways.” Along with Nicholson and superstar stylist Law Roach, other attendees with Hamilton were designer Theophilio, stylist Jason Rembert, model Alton Mason, singer Kehlani and athletes Miles Chamley-Watson and Sha’Carri Richardson.

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 that bought W magazine. Not to mention all the streetwear looks he serves in the F1 paddock on a weekly basis.

We’re just waiting on that debut album now, Lewis.

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