Louis Vuitton is reportedly in talks with Pharrell Williams, the renowned musician and streetwear entrepreneur, to become the luxury brand’s next men’s head designer. Williams, who rose to fame in the late 1990s as part of the hip-hop production duo The Neptunes, could become the second Black American to be appointed to a head design role at a European luxury house. The talks come as Louis Vuitton aims to extend its growth emerging from the pandemic. If appointed, Williams will replace the late Virgil Abloh, who previously held the position. The strategy of appointing well-known creatives has been successful for Louis Vuitton and in contrast to Kering SA, which recently named a little-known designer as Gucci’s new creative director.
The position has been vacant since the death of Virgil Abloh in 2021, with several emerging designers said to be under consideration. An announcement is expected soon, following the appointment of Pietro Beccari as chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton. Despite the lack of a creative director, the brand has continued to stage high-profile shows featuring live performances, underlining its strategy of creating entertainment experiences for a global online audience.
