He has played the god Apollo, the musketeer Aramis and the archer in ‘The Hobbit’ and even a stylish Count Dracula. But on the terrace of the Hotel Nobu Ibiza Bay, under a blue sky and a postcard-perfect Mediterranean light, in a sophisticated atmosphere and surrounded by beautiful people, Luke Evans born into a humble family in a Welsh mining town, resembles the talented Mr. Ripley, the antihero created by Patricia Highsmith: a guy who, thanks to his beauty, charm and talent, achieves social advancement. Although with an important nuance: Luke Evans has not murdered anyone, which is no small feat.
Villain in the ‘Fast & Furious’ saga, actor and singer in musicals like ‘Rent’ or ‘Miss Saigon’, Evans is an actor installed in the heart of the Hollywood industry but has not been absorbed by the Californian splendor. He only moves to Los Angeles for work and his personal life is spent in Europe, he lives in Madrid – specifically in the Malasaña neighborhood – and maintains close contacts with his native Wales and has a house in Ibiza that he visits regularly.
Luke Evans, during the presentation of his clothing brand / D.V.
Born in a misty place where the sun is an unknown, it is understandable that Luke Evans has been dazzled by the island and the Mediterranean light. Yesterday, he chose the terrace of the Hotel Nobu Ibiza Bay, in Talamanca, to present his latest project: the clothing and accessories brand BDSY. A collection that she has devised together with her partner, architect Fran Tomás, and designer Chris Brown.
Bold and sexy
BDSY is a fashion line that includes t-shirts, underwear and swimwearas well as bags and scented candles. BDSY is an acronym for the words bold and sexy. What are boldness and attractiveness for Evans? He explains: “Boldness is self-confidence, feeling good, assertiveness, being comfortable in your own skin. And being sexy I think is a state of mind, it’s what you absorb and transmit”.
Getting down to work and designing the garments was a six-handed job, between Evans, Tomás and Brown: “We got together an actor, an architect and a stylist, with our different visions, to create something new. The result is clothes that feel good, are sustainable and made with high quality materials”.
According to the BDSY website, the T-shirts cost €79 and the swimsuits cost €104. Evans admits that the price is high: “Yes, they are expensive, but we have tried to make them the best possible, with the best materials and quality construction. It’s made for all body typeseven my father looks great in them! He also insists that they have been very involved in the manufacturing process.
Mediterranean reverie
During the presentation, the microphone plays a trick on Evans. When the presenter of the event speaks, the microphone works. When the device reaches Evans’ hands, it stops working. Anyway, the actor has worked on the stage of London’s West End musical theater and is an expert at projecting his voice.
And so, without the need for microphones, he explains why he has included scented candles in a catalog in which fashion dominates: “It was my insistence,” he confesses, and relates that his intention was to create a candle that “smells like Ibiza”. “I have a house near ses Salines and it is a place of incredible natural beauty. I love to enjoy the silence and calm that you breathe at night and early in the morning. You hear the birds singing, you smell the forest. It is intoxicating. I wanted to capture that perfume, encapsulate it in a candle. My idea was that wherever I lit the candle, I could feel a little bit of Ibiza”.
The presentation ends and the waiters appear with trays full of drinks from Pernod Ricard: the red and white wines are from Azpilicueta (Rioja), the rosé Symphonie (Côtes de Provence), and the gin Malfy Gin. The sun is shining but the heat is not unpleasant, it is just the right temperature. The views are magnificent and everything seems to fit together. Evans, true to his maxim, seems to be very comfortable in his skin and approaches some guys modeling his clothes and asks them if they need anything, if they want a drink. BDSY’s advertising signs evoke those of the Dolce & Gabbana campaign of 1999 and 2000, coinciding precisely with the premiere of ‘Mr. Ripley’s Talent’: gorgeous men in a Mediterranean landscape. An ideal location, far from the mists of Wales.