Louis Vuitton, the famed French fashion house, has made a bold move by naming US musician Pharell Williams as the creative director of its menswear division, effective immediately. The musician and entrepreneur is the first permanent creative director of Louis Vuitton Menswear since the passing of the late Virgil Abloh. Williams will take over the role effective immediately and will present his first collection for the storied Maison in June, during Men’s Fashion Week in Paris.
Williams, like his predecessor Abloh, is a visionary, whose creative world stretches from music to art and fashion. Over the past twenty years the musician-turned-designer has established himself as a global and cultural icon by breaking boundaries across the various worlds he explores. His multi-industry prowess aligns with Louis Vuitton’s status as a Cultural Maison and reinforces its values of innovation, pioneer spirit and entrepreneurship, according to the House.
“I am glad to welcome Pharell back home, after our collaboration in 2004 and 2008 for Louis Vuitton, as our new Men’s Creative Director,” said Pietro Beccari, CEO and Chairman of Louis Vuitton. “His creative vision beyond fashion will undoubtedly lead Louis Vuitton towards a new and very exciting chapter.”
Williams will take up the role immediately and present his first collection in June. The musician has excelled in the design space through his Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream apparel brands and his numerous collaborations. His multi-industry explorations make him the perfect successor to Virgil Abloh, who also shared the same multi-industry prowess and brought it to his role at Louis Vuitton. The designer has also served as creative director of Bionic Yarn, the textile, polymer, and fabric maker. The company uses recyclable waste and turns it into usable materials. This will bode well for the Maison, as it looks to reach a series of environmental goals by 2025.
Despite not having had an artistic director since November 2021, when Abloh passed, Louis Vuitton continued to present collections and shows for its global audience. In January this year, the brand invited KidSuper founder Colm Dillane as a guest designer for the Fall 2023 season. Industry insiders had suggested that Dillane would be appointed to the role permanently. However, the brand decided to go with another powerful creative force to fill the boots of its 1previous trailblazing creative director.
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