Pharrell Appointed as Louis Vuitton Men’s Creative Director
In a move set to shock the fashion world, has been appointed as the new Creative Director of Men’s range. Williams and LVMH, Louis Vuitton’s parent company, have officially confirmed the change in which Williams will follow his late friend and collaborator His first collection has been locked in to debut during Paris Fashion Week Men’s in June, so anticipation will undoubtedly build over the coming months.
‘I am glad to welcome Pharrell back home, after our collaborations in 2004 and 2008 for Louis Vuitton, as our new Men’s Creative Director. His creative vision beyond fashion will undoubtedly lead Louis Vuitton towards a new and very exciting chapter’, read a statement by Pietro Beccari, LV’s chairman and CEO.
Despite finding fame as a musical artist, he’s had a long history in fashion, embarking on a swathe of collaborations with luxury brands. Starting in the early 2000s, when heading up N.E.R.D., Williams changed hip-hop style forever, incorporating skater sensibilities into his everyday wardrobe. He then went on to create , a highly influential streetwear brand with longtime friend . Alongside his work with and , he made his start in the high-fashion market alongside Louis Vuitton, collaborating in 2004 on a Line of sunglasses. And, during Abloh’s tenure as Creative Director, he reissued the Pharrell and Marc Jacobs-designed eyewear.
In the sneaker space, Pharrell has had tremendous success with his prevailing collection and has released countless co-branded silhouettes since 2014. Skincare has been another success in the artist’s ever-growing arsenal, following his launch of the Humanrace brand.
While LVMH and Williams’ relationship began almost two decades ago, the bond between the two has grown tighter thanks to the 2021 appointment of Nigo as the creative director of , which is owned by the LV parent company. A close friend of Pharrell, Nigo is always a front-row guest at Fashion Week presentations.
It’s no secret fashion houses have been trying to ingrain themselves in pop culture, whether by hiring celebrity creative directors, participating in guerrilla marketing stunts, or holding extravagant shows for , and Louis Vuitton’s last show attests that they’ve mastered this. Artist Rosalía was asked to perform at the , with KidSuper’s Colm Dillane acting as their guest designer. Before his passing, Virgil Abloh remained front and centre as the face of the brand, thanks to his deep ties to streetwear and other subcultural phenomenons. Pharrell Williams’ move into the Creative Director role for Louis Vuitton Men’s is the next big move, especially since his hyper-modern sense of style is sure to reinvent the house’s current look.
Only time will tell what the multi-disciplinary artist will do, but there’s no doubt everyone will be waiting with bated breath for June to roll around!