This Tuesday, January 21, 2025, in the Carré du Louvre courtyard, Pharrell Williams presented his Louis Vuitton men’s fall-winter 2025-2026 fashion show. A collection created in collaboration with Japanese designer Nigo, his long-time friend and artistic director of Kenzo.
Pharrell Williams and Nigo, a long-running bromance
With the appointment of Pharrell Williams as artistic director of the men’s collections Louis Vuittona collaboration with good luck – his real name Tomoaki Nagao – seemed inevitable. Longtime friends and collaborators, the American jack-of-all-trades artist and his Japanese counterpart foster a creative dialogue that is as enduring as it is prolific.
Introduced at the dawn of the 2000s by the New York jeweler Jacob Arabothe two visionaries share the same taste for modestreetwear and pop culture. In 2003, they launched two brands that have become cult: Billionaire Boys Club et Ice Cream. Two years later, Marc Jacobs, then artistic director of Louis Vuittonasks them to create a pair of glasses with the evocative name of Millionaires
At the time, Pharrell Williams is already a renowned rapper and producer, known for his avant-garde style. But he has not yet achieved the status of fashion icon that he embodies today. Conversely, good luck enjoys a solid reputation in the still confidential world of streetwear.
Recognized not only as a designer but also as an influential producer in his native Japan, the current artistic director of Kenzo stands out with his brand A Bathing Apebetter known by the acronym BAPEwhich is quickly becoming an essential reference. And this, well beyond the borders of his country. His influence is such that he also collaborates with Adidas, Nike et Uniqlo. Without forgetting, Virgil Ablohcreative director of Louis Vuitton menwho invited him for the pre-fall 2022 men’s collection.
Two years after his appointment at Louis Vuittonand after six collections for the house, Pharrell Williams finally pays tribute to his fruitful creative friendship with Nigo. And this parade Louis Vuitton homme fall-winter 2025-2026 not only celebrates their unwavering bond, but also sees itself as a cultural exchange between the heritage of American and Japanese fashion.
-The cultural impact of fashion at the heart of the Louis Vuitton fashion show
This Tuesday, January 21, 2025, first day of the Fashion Week homme 2025-2026 from Paris, the guests of the parade Louis Vuitton join the court Louvre Square. As a reminder, this place steeped in history, located in the heart of the city, is regularly popular with the French leather goods house. Previously, Nicolas Ghesquièreartistic director of the women’s collections, had already chosen it for his fall-winter 2019 and spring-summer 2023 shows.
As explained in the notes accompanying the parade, entitled Remember the futureclothing, as an object anchored in an era, is a central theme of this collection signed Pharrell Williams et good luck. The latter has an extensive archival collection of 20th century workwear. Thus, the two artists draw on their respective heritage to conceive of what contemporary fashion is as we will imagine it in the future.
You will have to wait until the end of the show to discover what is contained in the large wooden display cases installed on the podiums, signed by the studio Wonder wallfounded by Masamichi Katayama. Inside, fashion and design objects from the archives of Louis Vuitton, Pharrell Williams and Nigo who inspired the pieces of the fall-winter 2025-2026 fashion show. A reflection on the memory of mode and the character iconic of a piece that resonates with the exhibition Memorable. Hyperfashioncurrently presented at MAXXI in Rome.
While the industry luxe anticipates a slowdown, as highlighted The Worldfashion houses must, more than ever, find the right balance between heritage and innovation. A delicate exercise, comparable to walking on a tightrope, which requires audacity and risk-taking. Especially since the ecosystem of trends is no longer the exclusive privilege of the upper echelons.
By leaving the paradewe admire the glass pyramid which proudly sits in the middle of the palace of neoclassical architecture. And today, its anachronistic character finds a particular echo with the collection presented a few meters away. Criticized at its beginnings, this artistic project signed Ieoh Ming Pei has become a symbol of French artistic heritage.
