Image courtesy of revolutionwatch.com
The worlds of celebrity and fashion have been a winning combination for over two decades. Still, very few celebrities, with the exception of Sarah Jessica Parker, have been named creative directors of major fashion brands.
With the death of Virgil Abloh over a year ago, Louis Vuitton has been in search of a successor to Abloh to direct its very successful menswear division. Pharrell Williams appointment makes only the second time an African American has helmed a major luxury fashion house. Virgil Abloh the first such African American, assuming the post at Louis Vuitton in 2018.
Pharrell Williams’ appointment was somewhat a surprise to fashion insiders with black fashion designers Grace Wales Bonner and Martine Rose at the top of the list for the position at Louis Vuitton.
In a statement from Louis Vuitton, Pharrell Williams was hailed as a “visionary whose creative universes expand from music to art, and to fashion. 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.”
With the appointment of Pharrell Williams, the iconic French fashion house is emphasizing the importance of the influence of streetwear and urban culture on the fashion industry as a whole. Pharrell Williams’ first fashion collection for Louis Vuitton will be revealed during Paris Fashion Week in June 2023 for the men’s fashion week.
William S. Gooch
