Pharrell Williams has been appointed as the new head designer of menswear at Louis Vuitton, taking over the role held by the late Virgil Abloh. Abloh founded the streetwear label, ‘Off-White,’ and served as Kanye West’s longtime creative director before becoming Louis Vuitton’s first Black artistic director in 2018. The designer died in November 2021 at the age of 41 after a two-year battle with cardiac angiosarcoma. Williams and Abloh had a close friendship before the latter’s death.
The French luxury house announced the appointment on social media, sharing a post of the 49-year-old musician on its Instagram page: “Louis Vuitton is delighted to welcome Pharrell Williams as its new Men’s Creative Director. His first collection for Louis Vuitton will be revealed next June during Men’s Fashion Week in Paris. Pharrell Williams is a visionary whose creative universes expand from music to art, and to fashion – establishing himself as a cultural global icon over the past twenty years. The way in which he breaks boundaries across the various worlds he explores, aligns with Louis Vuitton’s status as a Cultural Maison, reinforcing its values of innovation, pioneer spirit, and entrepreneurship.”
Pietro Beccari, Louis Vuitton’s Chairman and CEO, added: “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.”
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