“We’re living in a time where diversity and inclusion is so important, and that’s why I started this organisation [The Hamilton Commission] within my own sport,” Lewis said in a September 2021 British Vogue interview. “I realised it’s very similar in the fashion industry. A lot of young brands and designers don’t have the same opportunities, so that’s what really set me off.”

He continued, “The Met is the biggest fashion event of the year, and for this theme, I wanted to create something that was meaningful and would spark a conversation. So that when people see us all together, it will put these Black designers at the top of people’s minds.”