- New York Giants defensive lineman Kayvon Thibodeaux is partnering with Hellmann’s and designer zero waste daniel.
- The collaboration features upcycled clothing, turning discarded materials into higher-quality fashion items.
- He expressed optimism for the Giants’ upcoming season and feels he is playing the best football of his career.
Denim and mayonnaise mix together like wearing white after Labor Day.
New York Giants defensive lineman Kayvon Thibodeaux is challenging all of that as the 2025 NFL season begins.
The 2022 fifth overall pick by New York, now entering his fourth professional season, partnered with mayo brand Hellmann’s and designer zero waste daniel (Daniel Silverstein) on a custom ‘House of Hellmann’s’ look that includes pants, a jacket and hat that uses the Hellmann’s monochromatic cream-colored scheme all the way through. The iconic ribbon logo is also part of the motif.
‘It’s really dope,’ Thibodeaux told USA TODAY Sports. ‘I think it’s going to look great on the runway.’
The designer, known for ‘upcycled’ clothing (taking discarded elements and turning them into higher quality products), and Thibodeaux connected over the summer to flip through sketches. Thibodeaux selected his favorites and left those talks confident in what the final product would be.
‘Super excited to wear it,’ he said. ‘I think it’s going to be a great campaign.’
Thibodeaux also discussed the Giants’ upcoming season, his fashion inspirations and more.
Questions and answers have been lightly edited for clarity.
USA TODAY: What are the anticipation levels now that we’re within a week of the Giants’ season starting (Week 1 on the road against the Washington Commanders)?
Kayvon Thibodeaux: ‘It’s time. It’s time for some football … we’re super-optimistic about this season.’
USAT: Where do you feel like your game is at right now?
KT: ‘I feel like I’m as best as I’ve ever been. So really just continuing to hone in on that so I can display it on the field.’
USAT: One strength of this Giants team, presumably, is going to be the defensive line and you’re obviously a part of that. What has been the vibe in that room throughout the training camp, preseason?
KT: ‘The game starts with us. It starts up front. We got to set the tone. The defense sets the tone for our team.’
USAT: How much pride do you take in setting that tone?
KT: ‘The standard is the standard. It’s a great opportunity, for me to be playing with the Giants. They have a history of winning. So we’re trying to get back to that legacy.’
USAT: Are you a guy who believes in look good, feel good, play good?
KT: ‘Exactly. That’s why the partnership with Hellmann’s hit right at home. I think this campaign fit just for me. It’s edgy. It’s something that Hellmann’s, as a household name, hasn’t been involved in before. So me being that guy on stage is really dope.’
USAT: Have clothes and fashion been something you’ve always been interested in?
KT: ‘Definitely. I believe in Deion’s motto you look good, you feel good, you play good. Wearing nice clothes, or wearing how you like them, has always been a pillar for me just in my self-confidence and my charisma.’
USAT: You mentioned Deion. Any other professional athletes or celebrities you like to emulate your style after?
KT: ‘Over time, people have had a bunch of different styles that contributed to fashion over the years. But just to name a few, I would say Pharrell Williams, him and everything he’s doing. I was a big Virgil Abloh fan, as far as fashion design. And then athletes that are really dressing well, I would really say (reigning MVP and NBA champion of the Oklahoma City Thunder) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He dresses really nice.’
USAT: How important is the pregame wardrobe for athletes, in terms of a form of expression?
KT: ‘I think athletes carry a lot of power when it comes to the culture and influence. So not only is it big for the athlete to show who they are, but I think it also is amazing for the fans to get an inside look at a different part of the athlete – being attached to the story or the person, I think, is always beautiful. But for me, I think getting dressed (up) puts me in a great state of mind to go play. And also it just shows the world a different side of me.’
USAT: The sustainability aspect, how big of a deal is that to you?
KT: ‘It’s really dope. Being able to repurpose clothes is a big part of my fashion experience. I’ve been blessed with so many clothes and I’ve grown so many sizes that I had to not use (them) anymore until I learned to repurpose and redistribute. And that’s something that Daniel believes in.’
