It took the French trunk maker more than a year to find the right profile to succeed the late Virgil Abloh, who passed away in November 2021. Louis Vuitton has just formalized the appointment of Pharrell Williams as head of its collections on February 14, 2023. And this is not surprising for those interested in the fashion of their last twenty years. Or even to popular culture, since the artist and businessman contributed greatly to shaping it as we know it today. Flashback.
Pharrell Williams, fashion sculptor and luxury and mass market fashion influencer for over 20 years
Since entering music as a producer, through The Neptunes and then NERD, helping heavily to fuse pop with hip hop in the 2000s, Pharrell Williams has long proven his influence at various levels of the fashion industry, both luxury that mass market.
Indeed, Pharrell Williams has participated in numerous collaborations trainers AND significant. Including Louis Vuitton in 2004 (to create eyewear) and 2008 (jewelry), in design with a chair with Domeau and Pérès in 2008, in contemporary art curating an exhibition for the prestigious Perrotin gallery in 2014. trades has also launched its streetwear labels in collaboration with the Japanese designer Nigo (recently appointed artistic director of Kenzo, by the way), Billionaire Boys Club (BBC for connoisseurs who will understand the game of the irreverent word with a famous porn tag…) and Gelato. In 2015, Chanel even made her an ambassador for a line of sweatshirts and bags (the Gabrielle model, to appeal to both women and men), as well as showing her for its Métiers d’Art 2018-19 collection, presented at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in December 2018.
In a more general public, Pharrell Williams has also signed collaborations with Moncler, Uniqlo, and above all Adidas, creating a buying frenzy every time. Given the already proven influence of him, therefore it seems a wise choice to artistically direct the men’s collections of the Louis Vuitton maison. This ensures the continuity of a repositioning already initiated through the mandate of Virgil Abloh: more streetwear and more in tune with today’s popular culture. The era of the DA influencer continues at the pinnacle of luxury.
Pharrell Williams, logically appointed artistic director of menswear at Louis Vuitton
At 49, Pharrell Williams has already established himself as an influential producer, singer and rapper, but also a formidable businessman in the fields of fashion and now beauty, since he successfully launched his skincare brand human race. All this leads Louis Vuitton to share an Instagram publication to formalize the good news on February 14, 2023, depicting the artist in plaid with the LV logo, like a providential newborn. The legend reads Pietro Beccari, President and CEO of Louis Vuitton (chicken with the gold monogram of the LVMH group) who rejoices:
“I am delighted to welcome Pharrell into the house, following our collaborations in 2004 and 2008 for Louis Vuitton, as the new director of menswear creation. His creative vision beyond fashion will undoubtedly lead Louis Vuitton to a very exciting new chapter. »
Pharrell Williams’ first collection for Louis Vuitton will be unveiled in June 2023 during Men’s Fashion Week in Paris. Hopefully the artist will continue to “Get Lucky”.
Front page photo credit: Louis Vuitton Instagram.
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
