Disco Fever

Moments before his Paris debut, Divya Bala spoke to designer Tommy Hilfger about Mumbai, millennials, and his latest muse.

Grace Jones, roller disco, and a star-powered collaboration: If you ever want to know how to steal the show at Paris Fashion Week, take a leaf out of the Tommy Hilfiger playbook. A night for debuts, it was the designer’s first showing in the City of Lights, unveiling his first collection with new creative collaborator, actor and singer Zendaya. For the occasion, Hilfiger re-imagined the historic Théâtre des Champs-Élysées as a Soul Train-style disco dance floor. In full ‘walk-off’ mode, an all-black cast of megawatt models such as Pat Cleveland, Halima Aden, Winnie Harlow, and Jourdan Dunn strutted to cheers from the crowd and the sounds of Chaka Khan, Prince, and Grace Jones—who herself took a turn on the runway. Bazaar met the iconic American designer at the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme hotel just days before the show as he looked back over his 30-year career.

Harper’s Bazaar: It’s your first time showing in Paris. Why now?

Tommy Hilfiger: We’ve shown all over the world: Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing, London, Milan, LA. Until now we were very street, sportswear-casual, which wasn’t right for Paris. But we’ve become a little bit more sophisticated with the Zendaya collaboration so it seemed like a good time.

HB: How did Zendaya get on your radar?

TH: I’m always on the lookout for a new person to work with. Between New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, we’re in the circles of music and Hollywood stars. Tapping into their fan base is a way to expand my brand for a new audience of millennials.

Zendaya is an amazing young woman—she’s an activist, a movie star, a TV star, and a musician.

HB: How involved was Zendaya in the process?