Pharrell Williams, the renowned singer, made his debut as the creative director of Louis Vuitton at Paris Fashion Week, held at the Pont Neuf bridge in Paris on 20th June. The event marked an exciting beginning of his creative and solidified the LVMH-owned brand’s position in popular culture. Models graced the gold-painted runway accompanied by live music, showcasing a captivating collection that featured pearl-adorned tracksuits, luxurious furry coats, and stunning jackets in various sizes, colors, and camouflage patterns, all bearing the brand’s iconic checkmark design.
Spectators eagerly gathered along the Seine River to catch a glimpse of the fashion extravaganza, which exemplified Louis Vuitton’s strategy of blending luxury and street style. Williams expressed his gratitude and reflected on the significance of his position as the second Black man to hold such a role in the world’s biggest fashion house. In an interview before the show, he paid tribute to the late Virgil Abloh, the former creative director of Louis Vuitton, acknowledging his groundbreaking contributions that merged skate culture with high fashion, particularly as an American Black man.
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In this Paris show many celebrities were spotted at the brand’s Menswear Spring-Summer 2024 which includes Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Kim Kardashian, Zendaya, Naomi Campbell, Rihanna , A$AP Rocky and Megan Thee Stallion.The show’s moving soundtrack included songs he produced, performed by Virginia-based gospel choir Voices of Fire, and piano sections played by Chinese musician Lang Lang.
Williams’ collaboration with Louis Vuitton traces back to 2004 when he worked alongside Marc Jacobs to create sunglasses for the brand, forming a connection with the Arnault family. Louis Vuitton CEO Pietro Beccari described the vision behind the collection, aiming to highlight the brand’s mastery in tailoring and catering to the elegant dandy. He emphasized that the essence of Pharrell himself was reflected in every look presented on the runway, with his unique style multiplied across the 70 ensembles.