Lewis Hamilton set to join LeBron James and others to chair Met Gala 2025

The upcoming Met Gala is set to make history with a star-studded lineup of co-chairs, including basketball icon LeBron James and Formula 1 legend Lewis Hamilton. These celebrated athletes, alongside Pharrell Williams, Colman Domingo, and A$AP Rocky, will help the Metropolitan Museum of Art launch an exhibition titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”

This exhibit, opening on May 5, will explore the evolution and significance of Black style in menswear throughout the centuries. Williams and Hamilton took centre stage at the official announcement, offering powerful insights into the meaning behind the exhibit.

Lewis Hamilton, who has become a fashion trailblazer in his own right, spoke passionately about the role fashion played in his life, particularly as a way of expressing his identity. Reflecting on his early years, Hamilton shared, "I was forced to conform. From my daily routine down to what I wore. My routine was rigid. And as the only Black kid on the racing track, there was no one like me to look up to.”

He continued, describing how embracing fashion allowed him to break free from that conformity: “I started to express myself more creatively and more specifically, through fashion. Finding my identity in how I dressed. This was a huge positive change." Hamilton emphasized the power of fashion in advancing diversity and representation, adding, “I’m excited to celebrate Black history ... and to show that inclusion and creativity go hand in hand.”

Met Gala set to embrace Black Culture!

Pharrell Williams, another influential voice in fashion and the creative director for menswear at Louis Vuitton, also shared his thoughts on the significance of this exhibit. Williams highlighted the resilience and contributions of Black culture, stating, “We are the survivors of perhaps the most intense hardships... and not only did we survive, we carried the music, the culture, the beauty and the universal language across an ocean... we gave it all back to the world and we continue to.”

Max Hollein, the museum's director and CEO, explained that the exhibit would focus on the role of sartorial style in shaping Black identities, particularly within the Atlantic diaspora. Inspired by Monica L. Miller’s book “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity,” the six-month-long exhibition will delve into Black dandyism and its historical roots.

The Met Gala, known for its extravagant themes and iconic red carpet moments, is expected to draw even more attention this year with a focus on Black menswear. Last year’s event raised over $26 million, and with such influential figures at the helm, this year’s gala is expected to be an unforgettable celebration of culture, creativity, and history.