H&M launches New Platform Exploring Global Style and Self-Expression
Swedish fashion giant H&M has launched a new Platform Exploring Global Style and Self-Expression.
Designed as an ongoing project that travels to four major global cities throughout 2026, it aims to capture and commemorate the unique style and spirit of major cities and its inhabitants. The series starts with New York, then Rio de Janeiro during the Spring, followed by another two locations to be announced later in the year.
The New York Chapter is brought to life through a series of Dynamic Portraits and Films shot by acclaimed photographer Rafael Pavarotti. It brings together an eclectic mix of icons and new faces in the studio – Famous Local Icons/High-profile figures born and raised in the city, Cultural Shapers and Street-Cast Talent/Unknown individuals discovered on the streets of Manhattan and Brooklyn, representing ‘real’ New York style.
These are American rapper and songwriter Ice Spice, American actor, director, and filmmaker John Turturro, Ethiopian model/actress Liya Kebede, American plus-size model and body-positivity advocate Paloma Elsesser, Egyptian-American comedian Kareem Rahma, American content creator and social media personality Jay Guapo and American fashion journalist Lynn Yaeger.
The cultural vignettes places the recognizable faces on an equal stage with unknown faces to collectively share their relationship with fashion and what personal style means to them.
‘This series is the next step in H&M’s explorations into how the global community is expressing themselves. The blend of characters cements the democratic vision of fashion that has always defined H&M. It reflects our belief in encouraging people to be themselves, celebrating self expression, individuality, and the idea that fashion is a collection of diverse expressions rather than a singular aesthetic or look,’ Jorgen Andersson, Chief Creative Officer H&M stated in a press release.
‘Every time you walk through New York you meet people like this. People who are striking without trying, people who hold an entire world in the way they look back at you. Avant-garde, poetic and real. This is the spirit of the city for me,’ Pavarotti commented.
‘One of the best things about New York is the style. You get inspired every day by the unique characters you see out and about. No doubt my style – and the way I express myself – has been shaped by the city,’ Ice Spice added.
H&M’s Global Style and Self-Expression platform emphasizes that Fashion is confidence, focusing on how individuals use clothing to define their identity within their city’s cultural landscape. Check out the images of New York here.
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