Hu’s London itinerary is packed. He currently acts as the international ambassador for the British Fashion Council (BFC) and is attending breakfasts, prize announcements and of course fashion shows. He is even joining a cruise down the River Thames for a spot of live streaming on Chinese social media platform Douyin.
“It’s my first time speaking to the press since I started working with the BFC eight years ago and that’s why I’ve chosen to speak in my mother tongue,” he tells the Post in Mandarin.
His absence from the interview circuit for almost a decade was based on a desire to show, not tell. In the intervening years, he has quietly collaborated with the BFC on various initiatives.
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Hu is passionate about supporting emerging designers, whether it’s in the UK or Asia. This season, he flabbergasted organisers by offering to walk in the University of East London’s on-schedule runway show at LFW, in a bid to “bring more press attention” to those graduating.
To the crowd’s delight, the classically handsome model opened the show, choosing to wear a look from Adryene Kimfuta Mikala’s collection investigating cultural dance from the Mbunza tribe of southwest Africa. He appeared in a deconstructed take on the classic tailored beige trench coat and slacks, with a casual asymmetrical top in dynamically contrasting red and navy stripes.
This was “most like his own personal style”, his team says.
“Right now, being an emerging fashion designer is a big challenge,” Hu says. “There’s so much attention on the bigger established brands, so this is what I’m currently focused on: keeping the young blood in the limelight.”
With 30 years of work under his belt, Hu admits that he is nearly always in front of a camera. He has tens of millions of followers on social media, with over 13 million on Weibo and close to 4 million on Douyin. He has signed collaborations and endorsement deals with the biggest names in fashion, from Louis Vuitton to Dior to Fendi.
Often featured in best-dressed lists, today he is kitted out head to toe in Givenchy. Outside luxury fashion, he’s a regular at global Ferrari events and was the first Chinese celebrity to live stream for Rolls-Royce.
I still have a high profile and many people thought I would start my own fashion line. But I want to do more meaningful things
According to Edmund Zhou, editor-at-large of V Magazine China, Hu’s appeal in China and beyond is enduring.
“He was the first and most successful Chinese male model, who then ventured into film, TV and music,” Zhou says, noting that Hu became an instant hit when he worked alongside model and actress Qu Ying.
Nonetheless, Hu comes across as a humble, down-to-earth individual who is genuinely committed to using his platform to do good.
“I still have a high profile and many people thought I would start my own fashion line,” he says. “But I want to do more meaningful things and use my energy to be a positive role model.”
When we spoke, Hu was set to fly from London to Florence for the Pitti Uomo fashion fair in mid-June, then had plans for both and Milan and Paris fashion weeks in September. Then he’ll return to Shanghai before heading to Changsha, in China’s southern Hunan province, the next day to start shooting the Chinese reality TV show Call Me by Fire.
He’ll sing and dance on set with 30 other stars for three months – until it’s time to take to the fashion week circuit again.
It’s easy to forget he’s a real person behind the glamour. Hu is conscious of his age, although his looks defy it. His mother died in February and is still on his mind.
“Life is not that long-lasting. It’s very important for you to do the things you want when you have the capacity,” he says.
There are few Chinese men in [Hu’s] age group who remain in good shape and continue to be active in the scene
When he’s home alone, he often asks himself if he’s chosen the right path, but his deep spiritualism keeps him grounded.
“Everyone faces some difficulty when they reach great heights,” he says.
Keeping on top of his game takes “a lot of work and great inner strength”, he says – especially in China, with its intense idol economy. He admits to feeling the pressure at times.
A day in his life includes hours in the gym and a tightly controlled diet. He’s been asked for so many tips that he often vlogs about his skincare regime and has extensive know-how when it comes to supplements and vitamins (he even jokes that his initials stand for health and beauty).
Zhou agrees that Hu has done a remarkable job of maintaining his career thanks to his work ethic.
“There are few Chinese men in his age group who remain in good shape and continue to be active in the scene. I think this makes him an especially good role model in China.”
And Hu still has reach: his collaboration with Tmall Global – China’s largest cross-border e-commerce platform – called ChatBing is helping position new brands for the China market, a project that is not going unnoticed by the BFC.
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His Douyin live stream from the Thames featured labels including Vivienne Westwood and drew in over 2 million viewers. Caroline Rush, CEO of the British Fashion Council, says his “enormous influence, knowledge of the Chinese market and commitment to supporting British designers in China”, even throughout the pandemic, have brought “immense value” to London Fashion Week and its designers.
Back to rehearsals: on the runway, it’s easy to see why Hu has earned his name. He treats a job walking for university graduates with as much care as he would any of the major catwalks he’s walked over the years. But perhaps it’s off the runway that his real talent lies.
His final piece of advice? “Don’t give up, and keep yourself healthy and youthful.” Wise words from a generous man.
