«“THEmy heart is broken» he tweeted Pharrell Williams in the aftermath of the death in November 2021 of Virgil Abloh, a colleague and friend. Today it is the rapper who takes the place left vacant by the giant alla creative direction of the man of Louis Vuitton.
The first rumors on the day of February 14, thanks to the tip of the Wall Street Journal. And a few hours later comes the confirmation of the parent fashion house of Lvmh and of the rapper himself, with a joint post on Instagram.
Pharrell Williams from Louis Vuitton, the announcement on Instagram
Pharrell’s first collection will be presented next June during the Paris men’s fashion week – reads the caption shared on social networks, accompanying a black and white portrait where the musician wears what appears to be a cape covered with the logo of the Maison. A decision that comes like a bolt from the blue and marks the beginning of a new era for Louis Vuitton menswear: last February 1, the nomination of Peter Beccari as CEO, ex Dior.
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The words of Pietro Beccari
«I am pleased to welcome back Pharrell Williams, after his collaborations with Louis Vuitton in 2004 and 2008, this time in the new role of creative director for men. His vision, which goes beyond fashion, will undoubtedly lead the Maison towards a very exciting new chapter» – declares Beccari himself, in the note to the post. Recalling how it is not the first time that the universe of Pharrell and that of the fashion house meet, and above all underlining the quality of the work and of his ego, so similar to that of his predecessor: a multihyphenatejust like Virgil, to all effects.
Virgil Abloh and Pharrell Williams in 2016 (Photo: Amy Sussman/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images).
A thoughtful decision
In fact, since the death of the former designer Virgil Abloh, the group led by Louis Vuitton, before choosing Pharrell Williams, has tried to fill the void by hosting some designers for one-off collections (just remember the most recent collaboration, Colm Dillane aka Kid Super for the menswear for Autumn-Winter 2023/2024), but leaving the field free to the style office. Now the time is ripe instead to welcome «a visionary whose creative universes span from music to art and fashion, establishing himself as a global cultural icon of the last twenty years» reads the press release. «The way it breaks boundaries across the various worlds it explores is in line with Louis Vuitton’s status as a Cultural Maison, and reinforces its values of innovation, pioneering spirit and entrepreneurship».
Who is Pharrell Williams and why it happens to Virgil Abloh
Pharrell Williams, musician and producerwinner of several Grammy Awards, on the other hand he has always had his “hands in the dough” even in the fashion field. Among his achievements streetwear which echo musical hits such as Happy (2013), brands G-Star Raw (co-owner since 2016), Billionaire Boys Club And Ice cream (founded with Nigo in 2003); and everyone happened to see him in the front row of Chanel, with whom he also collaborated directly, working closely with the unforgotten Karl Lagerfeld. Exceptional model for the Metiers d’Art 2016/2017 collection presented at the Ritz in Paris, he designed the collection CHANEL-Pharrellfor Spring-Summer 2019, which immediately sold out.
As Beccari himself recalled, he collaborated in 2008 on a line of sunglasses with Louis Vuitton (when Marc Jacobs was still creative director). Among the other most important fashion partnerships as testimonial and collaborator, also Diesel, Tiffany & Co. and Moncler, as well as adidas – with which it boasts a more than ten-year co-branding.
Virgil and Pharrell, friends and colleagues
A choice, that of Lvmh, which appears to be logical and is in continuity with the past, with respect to strategy undertaken by Kering for Gucci, for example (only a few weeks ago the appointment of the young Sabato Di Sarno, ex Valentino style office, in place of Alessandro Michele). In fact, the similarity between the two, at least in terms of multitasking careers, is clear. As well as theirs bond of respect and esteem: the last time they collaborated together, al podcasts OTHERtone in January 2021which today offers a cross-section of their understanding.
“Virgil, you were a kind, generous, thoughtful creative genius. Your work as a human being and spiritual will live on forever », she greeted him like this, on Twitter. And now, to collect his legacy, it’s up to him.
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