Pharrell Williams named Louis Vuitton menswear head designer

Pharrell Williams is the superstar behind scores of music earworms, whose agelessness, sharp taste and forays into design have also made him a fixture on the fashion circuit for decades.

The pop culture renaissance man will now head menswear design for Louis Vuitton, stepping into the shoes of Virgil Abloh and becoming, after his predecessor, the second Black man to take on the role.

The trailblazing Abloh died of cancer in November 2021, and his spot at the European luxury house has remained vacant since.

‘Exciting new chapter’

Williams, 49, was not among those most rumoured as the successor, but his streetwise sensibility meshes well with the brand’s recent push to attract younger audiences.

Louis Vuitton head Pietro Beccari praised Pharrell’s “creative vision beyond fashion,” saying it would lead the label “towards a new and very exciting chapter.”

In addition to teaming with brands including Adidas, Diesel, Chanel and Moncler, the prolific songwriter, producer and performer already partnered with Louis Vuitton, including in 2008 on a jewellery and sunglasses line.

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He and his longtime partner, the fashion designer Helen Lasichanh, wed in 2013.

In 2016 Williams was named co-owner of jeans brand G-Star Raw, and also co-founded the Japanese clothing maker Billionaire Boys Club.