Shawn Mendes and Tommy Hilfiger on New Collaboration, Music, and Prep
It’s official: the -cores are lifeless, and with their well timed demise comes a resurgence of preppy, minimalist dressing that focuses on well-made items meant to face the check of time (and developments). And Tommy Hilfiger, the American designer well-known for pioneering the ’80s and ’90s prep aesthetic, is aware of a factor or two about timeless, perpetually basic items—and remaking them for at this time. Living proof: This month, he teamed up with none apart from Grammy nominee Shawn Mendes to launch Tommy X Shawn Classics Reborn, a capsule assortment that includes 28 appears. Every bit is supposed to evoke a basic Tommy merchandise (assume: polo shirts, oxfords, letter jackets), however reimagined with a brand new twist. All the things is made with sustainable and revolutionary supplies, a nod to the truth that even when the best way we gown hasn’t modified a lot since Hilfiger’s eponymous model launched in 1985, the world definitely has.
Final evening, Hilfiger, Mendes, and a number of different VIPs, together with Pamela Anderson, Jourdan Dunn, and Emily in Paris star Lucien Laviscount, gathered to have fun the gathering’s launch with an 80-person dinner at The Home of KOKO in London. (No worries for Anderson: the menu was vegan-friendly). Forward of the occasion, ELLE.com sat down with Hilfiger and Mendes to debate the brand new assortment, sustainability, and why prep is in (once more). Learn the interview highlights beneath.
On the significance of sustainability:
Shawn Mendes: I believe it’s really attending to that time the place [sustainability] is the one choice. That’s why it’s such an honor to be part of this marketing campaign and work with Tommy and his group. I used to be talking about this the opposite day, how local weather change can typically really feel like this looming, ominous supply that may make you simply need to get below your covers and give up and be like, “That’s it; I’m out.” To have the ability to work with a model that has a lot affect and affect to me was like, okay, I can can actually attempt to assist and do one thing right here. I additionally assume it really places quite a lot of good strain on different style manufacturers and different industries to be like, “It’s time to start out aiming in direction of shifting a paradigm.” And dealing with Tommy as such an iconic big is essentially the most unbelievable approach I might ever try this. I’m having a second proper now the place I’m having quite a lot of coincidences, and serendipity begins arriving. I’m having them arrive on the identical time in my life, which may be very cool.
Their favourite piece from the gathering:
Tommy Hilfiger: I really like this shirt [gestures to Mendes’ Flag Rugby Polo]. It’s impressed by a shirt I did within the ’90s that can go down in historical past as—
SM: Among the best ever.
TH: Yeah. I’d say [it was] a daring transfer on the time, as a result of lots of people say that it’s a defamation of the American flag. So it was form of rebellious to do this at that time. After which Snoop Dogg wore it or wore [something] comparable, and quite a lot of different younger folks began carrying it. However within the ’70s, in the event you had been carrying a flag, an actual American flag, you drape your self in an actual American flag, you could possibly get arrested and put in jail. And when the shirt got here out in 1992, we obtained letters from individuals who had been veterans saying that’s a defamation of the flag. And we stated, “No, we’re honoring the flag. As a result of we expect it appears so nice.”
SM: That shirt can also be my favourite piece. I imply, being born in ’98, I typically generally neglect how a lot occurred from between the ’50s to 2000 by way of simply insurrection and authorities and wars and every part. And I by no means even considered how ballsy and daring a shirt like that is; I took it as a right. So that is the primary time I’m actually feeling that. And that’s a extremely wonderful factor.
Why prep is due for a comeback:
TH: I believe [fashion] is cyclical. In case you have a look at what has been taking place on the runways in Europe for the previous three or 4 years…consider Gucci: every part was approach excessive. What occurs is the pendulum swings this manner and that approach the place it goes approach excessive. Folks need to come again right here and even out. Preppy comes again each sure period of time, but it surely comes again differently. And our shapes are totally different, so we’re making every part related for at this time. Whereas the ’90s made every part related for the ’90s, now the relevancy has modified.
Whether or not or not Mendes would ever begin his personal clothes line:
SM: It’s humorous. I believe really simply sitting right here subsequent to Tommy, listening to him talk about style, is so inspiring to me proper now. It simply seems like, I suppose I haven’t requested the suitable questions, and I’m simply feeling very lit up by it. And I’m simply additionally simply sensing so deeply how intertwined music and style really are. And so, sure, the final couple occasions I’ve been requested that, I’ve stated I’m unsure. However I actually am feeling a excessive, resonant “sure” in my physique, simply because I’m so certain that there must be allies within the struggle for affect and evolving. So, sure, for certain.
Store extra of the Tommy X Shawn assortment, beneath:
Tommy Hilfiger x Shawn Mendes Flag Bikini
Tommy Hilfiger x Shawn Mendes Varsity Jacket
Tommy Hilfiger x Shawn Mendes Pleated Trouser
This interview has been edited and condensed for readability.