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National
Elaine McCallig

Lewis Hamilton invited emerging black designers to join him at Met Gala table

British racing driver Lewis Hamilton proved he truly is a force to be reckoned with as he stepped out onto the Met Gala red carpet last night just days after being involved in a crash at the Italian Grand Prix. 

The seven-time world champion may be a legend on the racing track, but he’s also renowned for his sharp sartorial sense.

At Monday night’s Met Gala, Hamilton used his platform to spotlight the talent of four young black designers by hosting them at his table. Designers Theophilio, Kenneth Nicholson, and Jason Rembert were amongst those he invited.

Hamilton wore an exquisite outfit from Nicholson, which featured a delicate white lace shirt dress layered under a slick black suit.

Speaking to Keke Palmer on Vogue’s livestream of the exclusive event, Hamilton said: “Tonight, I’m really fortunate. Anna [Wintour] agreed to host my table and I’ve brought four incredible, young, black talented designers and so we’ve got a great host of people tonight and it’s just about highlighting beauty and excellence and talent.”

“We’re living in a time where diversity and inclusion is so important, and that’s why I started this foundation [The Hamilton Commission] and working within my own sport to help improve diversity within my industry,” he toldVogue.

The Hamilton Commission aims to increase black representation in British motorsport and the wider STEM sector. The organisation was founded after Hamilton noticed the lack of representation in the 2019 end-of-season photo.

Following a report from the Hamilton Commission, the racing driver launched a charity called Ignite alongside Mercedes to foster talent amongst underrepresented groups who are interested in pursuing a career in motorsports and STEM.

In July of this year Hamilton also launched Mission 44, a foundation that encourages young people from underrepresented groups to reach their full potential.

He continued: “I realised it’s very similar within the fashion industry. A lot of young brands and young designers don’t have the same opportunities, and so I wanted to support young up-and-coming talent.”

The theme for this year’s Met Gala celebrated all things American and as with every year, the attendees did not disappoint. 

Speaking of how he was participating in the theme, he said: “The Met is the biggest fashion event of the year, and for this theme, I wanted to create something that was meaningful and would spark a conversation. So that when people see us all together, it will put these black designers at the top of people’s minds.”

Hamilton received praise on social media for his activism, while others poked fun at how muted his Met Gala suit was compared to his race week ensembles:

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