What Is Joopiter? Pharrell Williams's Auction Platform Delivers Intergalatic Collections
is most well known for being a musician, producer, designer, and most recently, the at , but what a lot of people might not know is that he has his very own auction company. Williams’s platform was launched in 2022 and the first collection listed was his own. In an interview with the Financial Times, Williams explains he wanted a personalised auction platform that would best curate and sell his items in a cohesive manner that other companies couldn’t. Since then, the digital-first platform has hosted an array of intergalactic auctions that has featured heat like the rare samples, and it appears this could now be the celebrity sneakerheads’ auction house of choice.
J Balvin
‘The Prince of Reggaeton’ hooked up with Joopiter in late December to host the auction. Featuring a collection of work that spans fashion, sneakers, art and collectibles, the items were taken directly from Balvin’s own collection. Sneaker highlights included a Friends and Family edition of his , a customised x by , and Girls Don't Cry x Nike Dunk Pro SB QS.
Nigo Knows and Pharrell Knows Too
During the Men’s Paris Fashion Week Louis Vuitton show, Pharrell also revealed a series of colossal boxes that housed not only his personal archives, but also that of Japanese designer – all of which was to be auctioned off via Joopiter. One of the most eye-catching editions in the auction was the , which comes from Pharrell’s personal collection. Also belonging to the artist was a selection of his , including a 2015 N.E.R.D. iteration and two hand-painted samples. N.E.R.D. vibes continue with their legendary Nike SB colab from 2004, of which only 1050 pairs were created, and Pharrell’s collaborations with Chanel and were also present.
Kim Jones
has lived enough life for four people combined, helping lead some of the top luxury brands of all time including and . One part of Jones’s life that is not always in the spotlight though is his sneaker collection. This year, he partnered with Pharrell’s auction house to sell some of his most prized possessions and work, with all proceeds going to the World Land Trust. Among one-of-one samples, prototypes and collaborative work with , and were the Dior x Air Jordan 1, which has a starting bid at $5000, and the legendary AJ1 ‘UNC’ from 1985.
Kid Cudi
Most recently, opened the vault on his personal archive with , an exclusive auction hosted on Joopiter. The auction showcased a curated selection of rare fashion, sneakers, and memorabilia reflecting Cudi’s individual style and influence. There’s plenty on offer for high-rolling sneakerheads, including the , , , , , and the .
Already, Joopiter are developing an impressive roster and reputation, with the collections packed with the creme de la creme of the sneaker world and coming straight from the archives of sneaker legends themselves. When Williams started Joopiter, he aimed ‘to embrace the energy that is released when objects change hands, and to respect the value that’s been created around these objects’. The approach so far has upheld this mission, and it’s definitely an auction house to keep eyes on!
For more on high-profile sneakers, how Louis Vuitton made their way into the sneakersphere.