Vuitton picks Pharrell Williams to become men’s designer

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Feb 14, 2023

Louis Vuitton has chosen singer and performer Pharrell Williams as its new men’s creative director, in a major disrupted surprise by the house.

Vuitton has been without a menswear creative director since the death of Virgil Abloh in November 2021. Abloh was the first black designer to helm a major league fashion label. Williams is now the second.
 
“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. His creative vision beyond fashion will undoubtedly lead Louis Vuitton towards a new and very exciting chapter,” said Beccari in a release.

Beccari himself has recently returned to Louis Vuitton, having spent almost a decade at the luxury brand. He joined LVMH in 2006 as executive vice-president marketing and communication of Vuitton, before becoming chairman and CEO of Fendi in 2012, then Dior in 2018.
 
Pharrell, as he is generally known in Paris, will take up his position immediately and present his first collection in June, during the next Paris menswear catwalk season.
 
Williams is a familiar figure in the fashion industry, who regularly attends shows in Paris. He has also been a brand ambassador for Chanel, and even appeared in Karl Lagerfeld “historic” films on Coco Chanel and the house.
 
Pharrell has also collaborated with Japanese fashion figure Nigo, who was appointed creative director last year of Kenzo, another brand within LVMH, which controls Vuitton, its largest single marque. Vuitton is tipped to break the 20 billion annual sales target in 2023.
 
The decision occurs just a month after LVMH carried out a senior management reshuffle which saw Beccari move from Dior to become CEO of Vuitton. One of his first tasks was always going to be finding a long-term successor to Abloh.
 
Since Abloh’s passing, Vuitton menswear collections have been developed by an in-house design team.
 
However, in the most recent Paris menswear season in January of this year, the house called on the services of American designer Kid Super to design the collection.
 
Given Pharell’s continued musical endeavour’s, his commitment to Vuitton will need careful management..