Over lunch with James and Rhett
MANILA, Philippines - A few days before his recent show, Collezione C2’s Rhett Eala sits down with endorser James Younghusband to catch up on football, relationships and recent travels.
YStyle eavesdrops on their conversation.
James Younghusband: Tell us about your new collection, Rhett.
Rhett Eala: Okay, if last year’s collection was all about traveling to the West, maybe going to Europe or the US, this collection is all about the Himalayas mountain range in the East. The silhouettes now are looser, the colors are more earthy and the pieces are more layered. It also has a military feel. The thing is, I’ve been to India many times and my fascination started there. My ultimate dream holiday is actually Bhutan. To go hiking there.
J: Any chance of Phil and me coming along with you to Bhutan?
R: Sure. We’ll all go hiking and meditating. You guys also travel a lot for football. Do you have any favorite places?
J: I really liked Bangkok. I appreciate how football is such a huge part of their culture. Right in the center of the city, they have a sports complex where people go at night, instead of going to nightclubs, to interact and socialize with other people. It’s huge — a stadium, tennis court, a running track. It’s really clean and very well-organized. I really liked that. What about you? What’s your favorite place in the world?
R: Maybe Paris.
J: I’ve only been to Disney in Paris. What do you like about the city?
R: It’s so nice. Everywhere you turn is amazing. I don’t think I want to live in the city but I always like going there. I love the food. I also like Bangkok, Hong Kong…
J: I went to Hong Kong for the first time only this year. I’ve been many times to the airport but this is the first time I went to the city. I had a great time just looking at all the shops, wandering around, looking around. It kind of reminded me of London: the traffic lights, the street signs, the posts…
R: How did it feel when you kicked that goal in your game against Nepal?
J: It felt good really since I’m not usually the one who makes goals; it’s usually Phil or Chieffy. It also felt really good after what’s just happened recently — it was something tragic and sad for my family. It felt like some sort of a tribute to my Mom, something I could share with the crowd and everybody watching.
R: Your manager Max and I cried when you scored that goal. We remembered your mom right away.
J: Yes, I remember looking over in your direction.
R: Your team is very international. You even have a guy from Iceland.
J: Yes it is very international. But we also have a lot of good Filipinos. That’s also the reason why we wanted to put up the academy here: to help develop local talent.
R: How’s your academy, by the way?
J: Well, now that Phil and I have a break from the Azkals, we want to focus more on the academy. We want to have more regular activities for the kids. It’s important for Phil and me that we’re hands-on. It’s not something that we just want to put on the side.
R: It took a while for the academy to take off…
J: Yes, there were a lot of times in the past when we didn’t think this academy was going to work and it was very frustrating. But eventually, it all paid off.
R: If you had not pursued football, what would you be doing?
J: I would have stayed in school and probably be a graphic designer now. Something in the arts.
R: By the way, how was the tuxedo that I made for you by the way for your girlfriend Fiona’s prom?
J: It was great, thanks.
R: Did a lot of people get their pictures taken with you?
J: Yes, more the teachers, especially… In my eyes, we were the most well-dressed couple there. Who would you like to dress in Hollywood?
R: Well, not quite Hollywood. I want to dress Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine — she’s really cool and she’s the fashion guru now — and Chris Martin.
J: Chris Martin?
R: Yes, Coldplay is one of my favorite bands.
J: My favorite as well.
