This is a BIG DEAL. Ever since the loss of the great Virgil Abloh the fashion giant Louis Vuitton has been looking for a suitable replacement. They’ve found it.
Pharrell Williams, the singer who brought us “Happy,” has been appointed the new creative director of mens wear.
“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 Pietro Beccari, Louis Vuitton’s chairman and CEO in a statement. “His creative vision beyond fashion will undoubtedly lead Louis Vuitton towards a new and very exciting chapter.”
Much like Abloh, Williams’ creativity is cross-disciplinary: At the beginning of 2022, he announced he was involved in an ambitious new hotel project, slated to open next year in the Bahamas, and during the pandemic, he released a portable cutlery set to limit single-use plastic consumption when outdoor dining.
How Williams will apply his skillset to his new role at Louis Vuitton remains to be seen but a flurry of industry reactions to the news across social media suggests he’ll have a packed house at his first show this summer.