Louis Vuitton picks Pharrell Williams as creative director of menswear, continuing the luxury label’s links with pop culture and music

Louis Vuitton’s choice as men’s creative director of the Grammy-winning artist, known for his songs Happy and Blurred Lines, is the first move by its new CEO

Fashion-forward Williams co-founded Billionaire Boys Club with Japanese designer Nigo in 2003, and has collaborated with Adidas, Chanel and Marc Jacobs

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Louis Vuitton has picked Pharrell Williams as its men’s creative director, continuing the label’s links with pop culture and music and filling a position left vacant by the death of Virgil Abloh in 2021. Photo: Reuters

Published: 10:20am, 15 Feb 2023Updated: 3:42pm, 15 Feb 2023

Luxury giant LVMH’s top label, Louis Vuitton, has hired Pharrell Williams to lead the artistic direction of its menswear designs, tapping a popular figure from the music industry to fill the high-profile position left vacant since the death of star designer Virgil Abloh in 2021.

“Louis Vuitton is delighted to welcome @Pharrell as its new Men’s Creative Director”, Louis Vuitton said in a tweet, confirming earlier reports from the Wall Street Journal and the French daily Le Figaro.

Williams’ first collection for the label will be shown in June during Men’s Fashion Week in Paris, the brand added.

Williams rose to fame in the music business as a producer and singer with hits including “Happy” and “Blurred Lines”. He has won 13 Grammy awards and was a judge on the popular singing competition show The Voice.

Pharrell Williams arrives for the 65th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, in February 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/Caroline Brehman

“Happy”, written for the animated movie Despicable Me 2, earned Williams one of his two Oscar nominations. His second Academy Award nod came as a producer of best picture nominee Hidden Figures.

Williams also has extensive experience in the fashion industry. He played a role in the rise of streetwear, co-founding the label Billionaire Boys Club with Japanese designer Nigo in 2003, and launching collaborations with Adidas as well as luxury brands Moncler and Chanel.