Just before I got to Formula 1, I remember being looked up and down by a boss, and he definitely wasn’t impressed with what I was wearing. I was probably in FUBU and Timbs. I remember thinking, Shoot, I’ve really got to fit into this mold. And my dad expected me to fit into that mold too. Sometimes I would dress one way leaving the house, then drive down the road and change into a baggy, swagged-out look. I would go out and have the best night ever, then change back into what I left the house wearing before I came home.
When I first signed with F1 I was only allowed to wear suits and team kits, and it was horrible. I didn’t feel comfortable, and I didn’t feel like I was able to be myself.
Eventually, I had the courage to push beyond those boundaries and say, “Look, I want to turn up to the track in what I want to wear. I’m here now—you can’t get rid of me or change the way I dress.” The pushback was massive, but when the sport saw the impact of my little runway, other drivers started doing the same thing.
Of course, I always wanted to go to the Met Gala, and I got invited for the first time in 2015. It’s always been a privilege to attend, but in 2021, I no longer wanted to just be another person in the room. I was working with Law Roach, who is a dear friend, and I was like, “What if we created a table together where we invite a few up-and-coming Black designers, have them dress some guests, and we all show up together—so it’s about creating space and opportunity?” And also, I was going to buy the table myself. Of course, everyone looked great, but I felt like that night opened up a dialogue about amplifying underrepresented voices and talent.
Naturally, I hope this year’s Met Gala sparks conversation and reconfirms the connection between fashion and self-expression, and how deep it runs in Black culture. I hope it allows us to show that we have ownership of our identity and how we see ourselves and how we see one another, and how we use fashion to combat preconceived notions with humanity and dignity. If you think about where we are in the world—and particularly in the States, in terms of people pulling back on diversity—I think this Met Gala sends a really strong message that we must continue to celebrate and elevate Black history.
