Pharrell Williams Is The New Creative Director of Louis Vuitton Menswear Division
Paris, France – Louis Vuitton has just named U.S. musician and entrepreneur Pharrell Williams as creative director of its menswear division!
The announcement marks the first major decision by Pietro Beccari since he took over as chairman and chief executive officer of Louis Vuitton on Feb. 1, and confirms reports in The Wall Street Journal and Le Figaro.
The appointment is effective immediately, and Williams will show his first collection for the house during Paris Men’s Fashion Week in June.
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“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 toward a new and very exciting chapter,” Beccari said in a statement.
The position had been left unfilled since the untimely death of his predecessor, Virgil Abloh, in November 2021. Industry observers had speculated that Vuitton could tap an emerging designer, with names including Martine Rose, Grace Wales Bonner and Samuel Ross rumored to be under consideration, or someone from outside the world of fashion entirely.
Despite the absence of a creative director, the brand continued to stage high-profile men’s shows featuring live performances by the likes of Tyler, the Creator, Kendrick Lamar and Rosalía, underlining its strategy of creating 360-degree entertainment experiences for a global online audience of millions.
In January, the house tapped KidSuper founder Colm Dillane as a guest designer for fall 2023, leading to speculation that he might be offered the position full-time. But that possibility was thwarted by the departure of Michael Burke after 10 years at the management helm of the world’s largest luxury brand, and the arrival of Beccari from Dior.
With his multihyphenate résumé, Williams has a similar profile to Abloh, who juggled his duties at Vuitton with his own label, Off-White, as well as side gigs that include DJing as well as art, furniture, jewelry, and industrial design.
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This is truly an exciting time for Fashion and we’re so excited to see what Pharrell will showcase on the runway in June.
Source: WWD.com