Pharrell Williams has been hired by Louis Vuitton to head up the art direction of its menswear designs, filling the high-profile position left vacant by the death of famed designer Virgil Abloh more than a year ago.
“Louis Vuitton is delighted to welcome @Pharrell as its new menswear creative director,” the house said in a tweet, confirming previous media reports.
The brand added that Williams’ first collection for the label will be presented during Men’s Fashion Week in Paris in June.
Williams, 49, rose to prominence as the music producer and lead singer of NERD, and has been hailed as one of the most successful and influential producers of the 21st century.
He has also enjoyed a successful solo songwriting career, best known for hits like Happy and Blurred Lines.
Happy, which Williams wrote for the animated film Despicable Me 2, earned him one of his two Academy Award nominations. His second Academy nod was for producer of the Best Picture nominee Hidden Figures.
Williams is also known for his unique style and has extensive experience in the fashion industry, playing a role in the rise of streetwear and co-founding the label Billionaire Boys Club with Japanese designer Nigo in 2003.
He has also started collaborations with Adidas and luxury brands Moncler and Chanel.
In 2004, he collaborated with Louis Vuitton designer Marc Jacobs to design eyewear for the label.
“A Significant Intake”
Williams created a stir last year when she attended Nigo’s debut show in Paris for LVMH-owned label Kenzo wearing diamond-encrusted glasses from Tiffany, which was another design project with an LVMH-owned label.
“Williams is a significant buy, needed to fill the big boots left by Virgil Abloh,” Credit Suisse analysts said.
They also noted that the “major move” by the new chief executive, Pietro Beccari, suggests the brand’s ties to pop culture and music will continue.
Abloh died at the age of 41 after a private battle with cancer in 2021.
The influential Louis Vuitton menswear designer and founder of fashion brand Off-White was diagnosed with cardiac angiosarcoma – a rare and aggressive form of cancer – in 2019.
