fashion<\/a> is playful, personal and connected to the culture.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\tWhile VIPs, press and insiders perused the wares, The Hollywood Reporter<\/em> caught up with Smith to talk H&M, his red hot modeling career (he\u2019s walked for Versace, Jil Sander and Luar) and a new clothing line on the horizon for 2026.<\/p>\n\n\tWhy did you say yes to hosting today?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\tH&M has been a historic brand with a real legacy. They\u2019re going in the right direction with the clothes they\u2019re making now, and their brand is super my swag. I just kind of picked it up and I\u2019m happy to be here. <\/p>\n
\n\tThe opening is a boost for Los Angeles retail. What\u2019s your L.A. shopping life like?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\tI\u2019m going to keep it a hundred: I don\u2019t necessarily shop anymore. I try not to shop, at least. But L.A. has a lot of history for me. I was born out here so it\u2019s part of my roots. L.A. fashion is more slick, calm, clean cut. I think H&M is going to continue to bring that.<\/p>\n
\n\tWhy don\u2019t you shop anymore?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\tI\u2019m gifted a lot of stuff but I\u2019m also in the process of making my own clothes so I\u2019ve been focused on that and trying to wear what I make. That will be coming soon. We\u2019re in the process of finishing samples and getting all of that in order, so hopefully by next year we\u2019ll be ready to go.<\/p>\n
\n\tThis H&M location has a pre-loved vintage section. Do you gravitate toward vintage?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\tLooking at the fits and trims of the \u201880s, \u201890s, early 2000s even going as far back as the \u201850s is the dopest thing you could do. It\u2019s history, and wearing it helps make it modern, more fresh, more fly. I hope it never stops.<\/p>\n
\n\tIn addition to modeling and a new clothing line, what else is on the Julez Smith career plan? Any acting in your future?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\tI just turned 21 and now that I\u2019m getting a little bit older, I feel like my life has really just started. But for sure, I\u2019ve wanted a clothing brand since I was 13. I like the creative process. It\u2019s actually my friend and I and he\u2019s helping me work on it, so we\u2019re just really free styling and starting it up. Acting is something that I\u2019ll probably get into a little bit later. It\u2019s not closed off.<\/p>\n
\n\tI remember seeing your Instagram post about walking in the Luar show. You had such gratitude for that experience and to see your modeling career explode after that has been really cool. What have the last almost two years been like for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\tIt\u2019s been surreal. I mean, it\u2019s definitely been a huge difference from playing basketball in high school. I\u2019m just trying to take it all in knowing that God has blessed me with certain moves by getting me in rooms and just with all the activity in my life. I\u2019m following my purpose and keeping it going. <\/p>\n
\n\tDo you have a favorite fashion show that you\u2019ve done?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\tI\u2019m going to always say the Jil Sander show.<\/a> It was completely out the box for me. I didn\u2019t have any facial hair, so it just was completely different. I\u2019ll also for sure say the H&M campaign, too, looks wise. I also did a campaign for Moose Knuckles \u2014\u00a0that was cool.<\/p>\n\n\tWith the work and the clothing line, who is the first person you turn to for advice?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\tI mean, my mom is my head of snake. I also have a good group of friends and we\u2019re able to confide in each other. But really, everyone in my family is great. The men in my family listen and communicate very well. I lean on the people that I love and trust. My agent right here, we bother him all day. <\/p>\n
\n\tWho is getting the first samples of the line?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\tMan, that\u2019s a great question. Probably no one that\u2019s related to me. Probably some supermodel out in Paris. We\u2019re trying to make it right. It\u2019s no Instagram brand. It\u2019s high end, no B.S. We\u2019re going for fashion, we\u2019re going for real clothes.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\tSylwia Zi\u0144czuk, Somi Jang, Delilah Belle Hamlin, Tina Knowles, Julez Smith and Kimberly Estrada cut the ribbon.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t(Photo by Amy Sussman\/Getty Images for H&M)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tHamlin, Knowles and Smith<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t(Photo by Amy Sussman\/Getty Images for H&M)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tSmith and Hamlin<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t(Photo by Amy Sussman\/Getty Images for H&M)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tAtmosphere on the block.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t(Photo by Amy Sussman\/Getty Images for H&M)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tThe pre-loved section curated with Wasteland.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t(Photo by Amy Sussman\/Getty Images for H&M)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tAtmosphere inside the new H&M concept store.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t(Photo by Amy Sussman\/Getty Images for H&M)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t(Photo by Amy Sussman\/Getty Images for H&M)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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