When Damson Idris logs onto our video call, his pearly white grin glistens from cheek to cheek — and rightfully so, the guy’s got a lot to be beaming about right now.
Earlier this year, he launched his own fine jewelry line, DIDRIS, under which he aims to create a legacy of timeless ice with hand-selected artisans and collaborators. He performed a trophy-worthy Met Gala stunt, speeding down 5th Avenue in a custom Tommy Hilfiger racecar, pulling up to the esteemed steps icongnito-mode, and ripping off his glittering driver’s suit in a spectacular grand reveal moment that will no doubt inspire future Halloween costumes. The theatrical display was prime promotion for F1: The Movie, the forthcoming film-of-the-summer in which the actor stars opposite Brad Pitt. And now, he’s the face of Mr. Hilfiger’s bespoke APXGP collection inspired by the racing pic. That’s the sweet life of a movie star.
In F1: The Movie, Idris plays Joshua Pearce, a one-to-watch rookie who’s determined to prove himself to Pitt’s more experienced racer, Sonny Hayes, both of whom drive for the fictional Team APXGP. In quite the synergetic move, the made-up squad is sponsored by Hilfiger’s brand, meaning Idris’ and Pitti’s characters are decked out in the American fashioner’s signature red, white, and blue designs as they attempt to earn the world’s most prestigious motorsport’s top title.
It’s movie magic that makes sense: Hilfiger, in real life, has been involved with Formula 1 for more than 30 years. In 1991, he established his first sponsorship with Team Lotus, for whom he provided bespoke uniforms during a three-season stretch. In 1998, Hilfiger became the official clothing sponsor for Ferrari, a role he maintained for another four years. During a brief break from sponsoring the sport, he remained a loyal fan and even learned how to drive his own Ferrari Enzo at his former business partner and present-day Aston Martin Formula 1 team owner Lawrence Stroll’s personal track. Then, in 2018, he made a glorious return to the racetrack as a sponsor of Mercedes-AMG, which he still sponsors today.
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“Since I was a kid peeking through the fences at Watkins Glen racetrack, Formula 1 has been legendary to me. As F1 has opened its doors to new worlds like entertainment and fashion, the sport has become a cultural phenomenon,” said Hilfiger. “F1: The Movie captures the cultural shift, setting a benchmark in what we call ‘fashiontainment’, where the future is being shaped.”
In the spirit of “fashiontainment,” Hilfiger took his movie partnership one step further, creating a full-blown APXGP collection for cinemaphiles and Paddock-trotters alike. The line is filled with everything from racer-inspired garments, like vegan leather racer jackets, moto-manic shirts, and red quilted jackets modeled after those seen in the film, to trackside silhouettes, including tailored Japanese denim and merino knit polos.
Idris, the beacon for motorsport’s fashion clan, fronts the collection’s campaign, a visual depiction of the “limitless confidence” required to make it on the Formula 1 circuit. Here, the actor discusses his crossroads with Hilfiger, his personal style, and his secrets to acquiring such fearlessness.
You easily won the best entrance at this year’s Met Gala. Can you talk to me about what it was like creating that moment with Tommy?
It was surreal, man. So much time and effort went into that moment, and so many things could have gone wrong. During rehearsal, all these things were going wrong. The uniform would get caught on the brooch when they pulled it off me, or it would get stuck on my hand. I was underneath the helmet just praying that they would pull it away smoothly. But so many people loved that trick, and I think it’s a testament to Tommy Hilfiger’s ability to create iconic cultural moments. That’s one that we all know is going to last forever. I’ve already seen a bunch of kids recreating it, wearing red suits underneath black bags and getting their friends to pull it off. It’s become a thing now.
It’s absolutely going to be a Halloween costume.
Exactly.
The dress code at this year’s Met Gala was “Tailored For You.” It’s no secret that your look was about promoting your forthcoming movie, but I’m curious, did you feel a personal connection to the design, too?
The first time I ever heard about the dandy was through my sister. She did a documentary on the dandies of Congo when I was a kid, so I always felt close to the idea because it was associated with Africa, which is obviously my heritage. So, when I found out that Black dandyism would be the theme at this year’s Met Gala, I completely locked in. I had so many ideas. I had just launched my jewelry brand, DIDRIS, and my first collection was filled with green pieces, so doing an oxblood suit with Tommy Hilfiger to complement my designs felt like a no-brainer. We built on those color palettes and paid homage to both the theme and Tommy’s heritage, and I was super happy with the result.
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What has it been like building a relationship with Tommy Hilfiger, not only through the Met Gala, but also through his sponsorship of the film and your starring in this campaign? What is your favorite thing about the guy himself?
The thing I love about Tommy Hilfiger, the man and his label, is that he’s all about collaboration. It’s not just, “You’re an actor, be a mannequin for our brand.” It’s really an exploration of how we can work together so that not only are both parties happy, but the result is iconic. We’re building a relationship that is anything but momentary. It’s something that we can imagine in the future. Tommy Hilfiger really looks at unique ways to work with people, so my hat’s off to him and his team, from the Met Gala to this new campaign, and to some of the fun we’ve had with Formula 1 in the past.
The first time I linked up with Tommy was during Formula 1 in Miami and Las Vegas. His team told me to bring all my friends and that they wanted to make it a moment to remember. It was so insane and again, such an iconic moment.
“I love suits, of course. But I also love just being swagged off, showing up with my friends, and looking fly.”
There’s a red quilted jacket in this collection that is modeled after the exact silhouette that you wear in the movie. Considering Tommy’s presence on the Formula 1 track in real life, did wearing his designs in the film help you get into character?
It was really all about Joshua Pearce. When building his character, I knew that as a rookie, he was a cool rookie, and Tommy Hilfiger’s designs felt so seamless for my role. I also just love how so many elements of the movie tie into this collection. So when people watch the film, the connection to this line will make complete sense. I’m expecting this collection to sell out like hotcakes.
What’s your favorite piece in the collection?
My favorite piece is actually the leather jacket. I’ve worn it probably too many times. Summer is approaching, and I’m still rocking it. It speaks to Joshua. It speaks to F1. It also speaks to me, Damson. It interwines everything that this moment represents.
How would you describe your personal style?
Luxury. A friend of mine once said that. “Damson, you’re so luxury.” When I linked up with Tommy Hilfiger, I wanted the brand to move in that direction. I wanted it to feel innovative, in the sense that it could cater to different occasions. The collection really does embody my personal style. I love suits, of course. But I also love just being swagged off, showing up with my friends, and looking fly.
What was it like shooting the campaign? Do you have any favorite memories from being on set?
We were in Johannesburg, which was brilliant. I was filming a movie in Cape Town, so we got the plane over. We were on a South African racetrack, which was also brilliant. It was hot, and it was good to be around some heat. We were all just having fun, and I loved how they let me bring in my DIDRIS jewelry as well. It was honestly a day full of laughter.
“The biggest piece of advice I would give is to only do things if they make you happy.”
The campaign is all about championing the “limitless confidence” that it takes to make it on the Formula 1 circuit. What are some things that make you feel confident?
Having people who believe in me makes me feel confident, whether they are my family, my team, or even just the people who love the art that I give to the world. They make me understand my responsibility, and they make me step into being a leader.
What advice would you offer to someone who might be struggling with their confidence?
Man, there are so many things. The biggest piece of advice I would give is to only do things if they make you happy. People are always trying to impress others, and in doing so, they often don’t get the result that they want. That process knocks your confidence. It makes you insecure. But if you know that you are at peace with yourself, and if you know that what you are doing is true to you, you are always going to be confident. That’s how I live.
Final question. Can we expect to see more race-inspired Hilfiger looks on the Formula 1 press run?
100%. The movie’s out in about a month, and we’re traveling all around the world. We’re going to be everywhere from Mexico to Abu Dhabi to London to New York, and Tommy Hilfiger’s going to be there right along the way. You’ll see a lot of this collection, and you’re going to see a lot of new stuff that’s really fly, too.
Tommy Hilfiger’s APXGP collection will be available to shop online and in the brand’s stores on June 3.
The post Damson Idris Is Speeding With Confidence appeared first on Hypebeast.
