By Cynthia Akande
Top fashion label, Louis Vuitton on Tuesday named American rapper and producer, Pharrell Williams as its new creative director for men’s wear.
The French luxury brand announced on Instagram that it had hired Mr. Williams about 16 months after the sudden death of its previous men’s wear designer, Virgil Abloh, in 2021
“Louis Vuitton is delighted to welcome Pharrell as its new Men’s Creative Director with immediate effect,” the brand said in a statement.
The rapper was further described as a visionary whose creative universe spans from music to art to fashion — establishing himself as a universal cultural icon over the past 20 years,” said the fashion house, part of the LVMH luxury conglomerate.”
His first collection for Louis Vuitton will be presented in June during Men’s Fashion Week in Paris, it added.
“I’m delighted to see Pharrell come back to the house as the new creative director for men, after our collaborations in 2004 and 2008 for Louis Vuitton,” said the fashion house’s chief executive, Pietro Beccari.
Regarded as one of most influential music producers of the 21st century, Williams holds 13 Grammy awards and in 2014 his song Happy was nominated for an Academy Award.
A prolific entrepreneur, he regularly sits on the front row at fashion weeks and co-owns the streetwear label Human Made with Kenzo’s creative director Nigo. He also oversees his own labels Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream.
He was the first male ambassador for Chanel and has worked off and on with Louis Vuitton since 2004.
