The American musician and fashion entrepreneur Pharrell Williams has been named the creative director of Louis Vuitton menswear.
The role was previously held by Virgil Abloh who died in November 2021. It marks only the second time a Black American designer has held a head position at the French luxury house. Abloh made history as the first when he was appointed in March 2018.
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A longtime supporter, and friend of Abloh, Williams’ appointment puts an end to months of speculation about who next would take on the highly coveted role.
Emerging talent such as the Jamaican-British designers Martine Rose and Grace Wales Bonner were previously said to be under discussion, so for many insiders the announcement of Williams was somewhat unexpected.
However, his appointment is a reflection of the continued intersection of the luxury and streetwear sectors and hints at the direction LVMH wants to take the brand.
Abloh, who was hailed as a fashion maverick, was widely praised for widening Louis Vuitton’s appeal. He rebooted the idea of luxury, marrying it with the worlds of hip-hop and hype culture, and in doing so attracting a more diverse and younger consumer.
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In a statement from Louis Vuitton to announce the appointment of Williams, the rapper was described as a “visionary whose creative universes expand from music to art, and to fashion. The way in which he breaks boundaries across the various worlds he explores aligns with Louis Vuitton’s status as a cultural maison, reinforcing its values of innovation, pioneer spirit and entrepreneurship”.
His first collection will be revealed in June 2024 during men’s fashion week in Paris.
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