DIOR MAGAZINE: You recently became a Dior ambassador for men’s creations by Kim Jones. What does the House of Dior symbolize for you?

LEWIS HAMILTON: I’ve always been a big fan of Kim’s work, and of course Dior is such an incredible House with an amazing history. I’ve worn so many of their pieces over the years because I love their attention to detail, and just the quality of the fabric that they use. Every time I’ve been to a Dior show, I’ve been so inspired by everything, from the styling to the energy and the reaction from the crowd. I knew I wanted to be a part of that somehow.

DM: How would you describe your first meeting with Kim and your creative dialogue? 

LH: I first met Kim at a show, and we just started to have conversations from there. I was interested in what inspires him and where he finds his creativity. He’s brought to life so many collections but  still continues to move things forward, transcending trends to really create something new. But it was when we started to talk about things outside of fashion that we realized how much we had in common. Kim has spent a lot of time in Africa, and it’s a place where I’ve found a lot of inspiration, too; the continent is really special to both of us. I’ve loved talking to Kim about our experiences and love for Africa and just about the power of travel in general. We’ve really built this great friendship, and so I remember I was in Paris one time, and he invited me to the showroom to see him work. Of course I came by and got to see him bringing to life a collection with this amazing team, who I am now lucky enough to be working with. I just loved what they were doing, and I said to him I thought it would be really special if the universe lined up for us to do something together one day. So when he said, “Would you like to do something together?” I was like, “Yes, of course!”

DM: How did you work with Kim Jones and his team at Dior?

LH: I’m someone who is always really involved creatively, and the House of Dior totally embraced that. I did so much research before I came to our first meeting, and I remember I turned up with a moodboard that was inspired by images that I had taken while I travelled through Africa. For example, I met with traditional communities who were wearing these beautiful vibrant colours, textiles and fabrics, and I was so inspired by their creativity and the beauty of what they were wearing. I put all those images on a wall at Dior and talked the team through all the things I was inspired by and what I would love to bring to this upcoming collection. During the process, I was able to learn from Kim and his team but also fully shape the Lifestyle Capsule to how I wanted it to be. We chose the colours, cut and silhouettes of the pieces, with a lot of that inspiration coming from my experiences and personal influences. The team was there every step of the way to help me shape my creativity into this beautiful, wearable line.

DM: Can you please tell us more about the Lifestyle Capsule logo and the spirit of the pieces?

LH: As a guest designer, I was trying to figure out how we could put a twist on the classic Dior logo, which had never been done before. This collection revisits the House’s heritage while being a little more lifestyle and something I know people will really love to wear every day. The garments are a bit longer, looser, a little more casual, more relaxed, but they reflect Dior’s spirit. For example, the jackets are more oversized, and same with the pants; it’s something that I would wear.

DM: Sustainability is really important to you. Can you elaborate on that commitment, which is particularly close to your heart?

LH: I believe we all have a role to play in changing things for the better. Every industry in the world needs to be more sustainable, and fashion is no different. What I love about Dior is that they are starting with action and building from there – they see sustainability as a long-term goal. That’s why this Lifestyle Capsule features, in part, pieces made from organic or recycled textiles. I’m hoping that when people see the beauty and quality of this collection, it will inspire others to follow and understand the power of sustainable materials.

DM: You’ve become a veritable style icon. For you, what are the connections between fashion and sport?

LH: There is definitely crossover, especially in that push for innovation and technology. In sport, we’re always chasing after innovative materials. Dior embodies the highest level of innovation, and of course sustainability has been part of that for some time, but it’s something I’m really proud of with this collection in particular. Like the amazing people I work with in Formula 1, it’s always about doing even more, even better the next time, and that ethos is why we’re all determined to continue to grow the sustainable elements even more and just really push what we’re able to do. This Lifestyle Capsule perfectly reflects Dior’s values of innovation – featuring, in part, pieces made from organic or recycled textiles – and I’m very proud of that!