A Wren Says

Louis Vuitton announced today (February 14, 2023) that Pharell Williams will take the role as the creative director of menswear. This comes about after a vacancy of over a year after the death of Virgil Abloh. Though must of us know him for his music, the brand lauds Williams for his creative talent, They point to his own brands, including G-Star Denim, Billionaire Boys Club, and even his skincare line Human Race, as evidence.

I admit, this caught me off guard. I was one of those people who thought of Pharell Williams as music first. I mean. N.E.R.D, the Neptunes, writing and producing credits. Even though I have definitely seen his work in other areas. I still have to learn a lot more about the industry, but this to me seems the first time someone of this career background has taken the creative role of a major luxury house, rather than building their own brand up to that level.

I think Louis Vuitton is well aware of this and capitalizing on all of it. They liked the direction Abloh took them. They entered conversations they couldn’t have otherwise with his connection to music, hip-hop, and unapologetically Black boyhood and culture. I wonder then how Williams’s sensibilities and connections to these areas tell us about the direction that Louis Vuitton want to continue growing the brand. Perhaps this is a way to maintain relevance among a younger generation as they increase their spending power, with the balance of maturity and poise that Williams brings.

I for one am looking forward to the upcoming fashion seasons and watching out for his debut line.