With Pharrell Williams’ appointment, what is next for the French fashion house?
Over the past few months, various names and speculations swirled about who will take over the brand’s prominent role, but it was officially announced that Pharrell Williams is now Louis Vuitton’s Menswear Creative Director. He will be stepping into the role that has been vacant since Virgil Abloh’s untimely death in November 2021. Abloh performed prodigiously when he served as Louis Vuitton’s head of menswear, and his revolutionary accomplishments definitely give Pharrell big shoes to fill, but we are excited to see a new and exciting chapter.
More accessories on collections
It is pretty obvious that the American producer and fashion designer loves accessories. From his iconic Tiffany & Co. sunglasses that he wore at the 65th Grammy Awards to his jaw-dropping diamond collection, Pharrell never skips adding accessories to his overall look. It can also be recalled that Pharrell had a partnership with Louis Vuitton in 2008 for a sunglass line. In 2019, he also wore a jewelry piece from Jacob & Co. when he walked on the red carpet of Oscars. Having said these, we can expect that Pharrell might include more accessories on Louis Vuitton’s next releases.
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Pieces with strong streetwear influence
Through his looks and presentation, Pharrell Williams laid the groundwork for an era in which streetwear style became more visible in the fashion realm. Without a doubt, he already cemented his status as one of the biggest fashion icons. Through the years, he produced high-quality streetwear apparels and clothing lines like the Billionaire Boys Club and ICECREAM. Aside from this, Pharrell was also a good friend of Abloh, so it will not be a surprise if he keeps the previous director’s legacy and style alive.
Menswear will be challenged to new heights
One thing about Pharrell is he is unafraid and unapologetic to push the envelope on masculinity because his love for fashion and style isn’t limited to menswear. It can be remembered that Pharrell used to bring his Hermès Birkin Purple Crocodile Bag with gold hardware wherever he goes. Aside from that, he also wears clothes from brands like Chanel and Céline, regardless of its label. There is a huge possibility that Pharrell might bring the idea of exploring and blurring the gender lines in fashion on his coming collections.
Expect more collaborations
From the G I R L perfume for Comme des Garçons to the Stan Smiths line for Adidas, Pharrell Williams already mastered the art of collaboration. Some of his other notable collaborations consist of Brooklyn Bike x Domeau & Pérès in 2011, Ladurée in 2014, and Moynat in 2014. So it will not come as much of a surprise if Louis Vuitton teams up with other brands in the next few years.
Eco-friendly fashion choices and decisions
Together with other designers, Pharrell designed a limited edition Acai Sprays in 2011. This project was in association with Earth Day 2010, and all profits were donated to the Rainforest Alliance. In 2014, he created an eco-clothing line with G-Star that aims to produce sustainable development on cleaning up the oceans. In 2015, he released his second collection with G-star wherein he also partnered with Parley For The Oceans, an environmental organization that helps save our oceans. This collection included pieces that were made from plastics recovered from oceans across the world. Apart from these, Williams is also the Creative Director of BIONIC Yarn, a sustainable textile producer of yarns and fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles. We are excited to see if Pharrell’s passion for the environment will reflect on the pieces he will produce as the newest Creative Director of Louis Vuitton’s Menswear line.