Pharrell Williams succeeds Virgil Abloh as the head of men’s designs at Louis Vuitton

Ever since Kanye West initiated the the role of multi media iconoclast: Singer, songwriter, rapper, producer, designer, personality and activist. Brands figured out that a multi dimensional influencer at the creative helm makes money. I suspect we will see more rapper or singer producers turned fashion creative directors on the horizon.  I would even go as far to call this “the continuation of Ye”, not the person, but the multi faceted ideal. That probably sounds controversial given West’s current position as cultural pariah, but he did really start that unique luxury fashion/ producer, Rap star, persona.

Bring in the latest “Ye”:  Pharrell Williams has become Louis Vuitton’s men’s creative director.

Williams’ first collection will be revealed in June during Men’s Fashion Week in Paris. But he’s no stranger to the brand.

Pharrell has a lot of experience in Fashion and seems perfect for the role of LV creative director.

Louis Vuitton is extremely excited about the appointment. “I am glad to welcome Pharrell back home, after our collaborations in 2004 and 2008 for Louis Vuitton, as our new Men’s Creative Director,” said Louis Vuitton Chairman and CEO Pietro Beccari. “His creative vision beyond fashion will undoubtedly lead Louis Vuitton towards a new and very exciting chapter.”

The 13-time Grammy winner and two-time Oscar nominee has decades of experience working with luxury brands, according to the Associated Press and New York Times.

Williams collaborated with LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) in the early aughts on sunglasses and jewelry. The sunglasses collection, called Millionaire, remains so popular that shades are listed at more than double their original price on resale sites, and Abloh — a friend of Williams — reissued the line in 2018.

Beyond that, Williams had a popular sneaker collaboration with Chanel in 2017 (in which he became the first man to appear in a Chanel ad) and a unisex clothing collection with Karl Lagerfeld in 2019. He’s also worked with Moncler, Adidas Originals and Tiffany & Company.

And he’s launched his own brands, too.

Williams co-founded the influential streetwear label Billionaire Boys Club in 2003 (alongside Japanese designer Nigo, who is now the artistic director of Kenzo, which is also owned by LVMH). During the pandemic, he helped create a portable cutlery set in the hopes of limiting single-use plastics in outdoor dining. And he’s also launched Humanrace, a skincare and wellness company.

“Pharrell Williams is a visionary whose creative universes expand from music to art, and to fashion — establishing himself as a cultural global icon over the past twenty years,” Louis Vuitton said, adding that he reinforces the company’s values of “innovation, pioneer spirit and entrepreneurship.”