CF: When you're not making music or touring, what do you do in your downtime to unwind? What's a perfect off day for you?
T: I can be the laziest person ever. I can really just hang out on the couch and watch movies. What I used to do back in high school, and what I still love to do, is a Sunday afternoon movie. You pick a movie that's three hours. And you just lie on the couch. Recently, I did that. I tried to recreate the situation. I did that with Lawrence of Arabia, which is so long, but I really enjoy that.
-- Esquire, August 19, 2022, Christopher Fenimore (x)
CF: They're [lyrics on ‘Sahar’] more mature?
T: They're a bit more mature. They're also in a different space, apart from just being better craftsmanship. They’re not in this melodramatic teenage angst, not to talk down on the first record because I love that still, but they're more in a reflective state of mind. If I envision the album, it's like a storm has passed and you're in the aftermath of that, and you're reflecting on what happened. You don't even know what happened, but something happened. There are dust particles in the air, which I really think I can hear. In the record, there's a lot of noise interweaved between the songs. For me, visually, that's like the air between is not clear. There's stuff, there's an aftermath. Something happened. I think it's an album that makes you think. It makes you reflect.
-- Esquire, August 19, 2022, Christopher Fenimore (x)
CF: Does your style on and offstage differ?
T: Not really. I've noticed day-to-day, what I feel comfortable with wearing. I could be wearing a specific outfit for three days straight and then suddenly I'll think, "Oh, now I have to change." Suddenly it hits me. I am a bit of a creature of habit, though. So I do like to stick with certain type of outfits for longer times. So now I'm really into just jeans, boots, and then a shirt or t-shirt. I'm always into the simple stuff. I've been into bigger pants for a long while and it depends. Usually, it's just whatever I feel comfortable with wearing that day. I already have it on and I will wear it on stage.
-- Esquire, August 19, 2022, Christopher Fenimore (x)
Shawn Mendes's Collaboration With Tommy Hilfiger Brings Sustainability to the Fore
There are few celebrities who make as much of an impact in the style stakes as Shawn Mendes. Not only does the 23-year-old Canadian superstar like to experiment with his fits, but he also looks to do it all in the most sustainable and forward-thinking way possible.
That’s why he’s teamed up with Tommy Hilfiger for the iconic brand’s ‘Classics Reborn’ campaign. As the face of the initiative, he’s set to wear sustainable Tommy Hilfiger pieces throughout his upcoming ‘Wonder: The World Tour’… well, tour. Then, to cap it all off, he’s set to co-design a capsule collection; we’re talking re-imagined classics, with a focus on recycled materials and environmentally-conscious innovation, set for release in spring 2023.
As part of the 'Classics Reborn' campaign, which launches on 16 May, Tommy Hilfiger will be donating $1 million to mitigating the environmental impact of Mendes’s tour – a positive move towards a more sustainable future for the music industry.
The ambition is to make the tour (one of the biggest on the planet, naturally) climate positive, which is no mean feat. That means cutting CO2 emissions by 50% per show compared to the last outing in 2019. If you’re lucky enough to get a ticket, you’ll see Mendes wearing custom-made sustainable designs crafted from vintage deadstock fabrics and trimmings. Speaking about the project and the influence of Shawn Mendes, Tommy Hilfiger said:
“Shawn’s not only a multitalented musician — he also represents a new generation of Futuremakers who understand the need for action.
“By joining forces with Shawn to learn, share and innovate, we can build upon what we’ve already achieved and take our sustainability journey to the next level. While we recognize we still have a long way to go, together we can build even more awareness to make a positive, lasting impact.”
That’s why you’ll see Mendes wearing pieces from the 1985 Program line. Throughout 2022, the collection’s use of organic cotton reduces CO2eq by around 48% and avoids 692 tons of emissions (according to TH, that equates to 641 one-way flights from London to New York).
Not only that, but a big portion of the $1 million donation will go to funding regenerative cotton farming, which is an important and long-running part of the designer's commitment to sustainable fashion.
“I’ve always been inspired by Tommy and the iconic brand he built, and I’m excited to share our journey together with my fans,” says Shawn Mendes about the ‘Play it Forward’ collaboration.
“Everyone has a role to play in creating a more sustainable future and I’m inspired to see what we can achieve. I look forward to learning from each other, exploring how creative reimagination can have a positive effect on the fashion industry, and sharing what living more sustainably means to me.”
