Here are eight of Pharrell Williams’ best luxury partnerships to date, including his work with Adidas, Chanel, Moncler, and Richard Mille before he was named Louis Vuitton’s new head of menswear.
Williams has long been a fashion designer, but his hiring as Louis Vuitton’s head of menswear, replacing Virgil Abloh, is the first time a company has taken him in-house.
Williams is hardly a new name in the fashion industry, having designed accessories for Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton as early as 2004 and a Chanel capsule collection for Karl Lagerfeld and Nike.
You probably haven’t been paying attention if you think Pharrell Williams’ selection as the director of menswear at Louis Vuitton is a publicity stunt or a decision that was made at random.
Since the passing of Virgil Abloh, the menswear designer for Louis Vuitton, in 2021, billionaire LVMH owner Bernard Arnault has been searching for a successor to carry on his plans for the company. Williams’ appointment may have taken some by surprise, but those who follow LVMH would have expected it.
According to CNBC, Arnault has recently discussed how Louis Vuitton “sells culture” in addition to its high-end clothing and handbags. Williams was an excellent choice for his present position because of his prominence in fashion and street style over the past 20 years.
In reality, Williams has been quietly dictating men’s fashion for years, from his recently announced partnership with Tiffany (also an LVMH brand) to his own labels BBC and Ice Cream.
