Title: Pharrell Williams Collaborates with Nigo for Louis Vuitton's Fall-Winter 2025 Collection
While anticipating the Louis Vuitton Men's Fall-Winter Show 2025, a seasoned fashion expert shared a surprising anecdote. They'd met some young creatives lacking historical knowledge about fashion icon Gianni Versace. Although they were aware of the brand and Donatella, they were clueless about its founder. This dynamic, not unlike current social and political trends, highlights humans' tendency to absorb things at face value and disregard historical context.
For his fourth venture as Louis Vuitton Men's Creative Director, the versatile persona, Pharrell Williams, aimed to establish his own legacy with the iconic brand, which theoretically began its journey 24 years prior. Joining forces with BAPE founder and Kenzo Creative Director, Nigo, they presented an "artistic manifestation of a friendship for life" for the show's notes.
As guests walked into the eco-friendly, temporary space in the Louvre's Cour Carre, they encountered a unique, round stage resembling a massive 45 record disc. Seating was arranged around the stage and spaced with 24 vitrines. Guests could only see shadows hinting at the vitrines' contents until the show's conclusion.
After witnessing the show, guests were given a pamphlet titled "Remember The Future Archives," which explained the items arranged within the vitrines as a visual timeline of Pharrell Williams' work with Louis Vuitton's various creative directors, such as Marc Jacobs and Virgil Abloh.
One of the vitrines paid homage to NER*D, an influential album released in 2001, featuring Williams in iconic Louis Vuitton sneakers and a belt. The exhibition carried on, showcasing collaborative pieces, like a Lagerfeld-designed boxing punching bag, a turntable trunk designed by Abloh, and Stephen Sprouse's 2001 suitcase.
Visitors could also find various items from the designer's friends and mentors, like dataset jeweler's diamond-encrusted Blackberry Cover, a BBK jacket, and an infamous Puma velvet track jacket. Each item contributed to the show's inspiration and was reflected in the collection's themes, such as uniforms and workwear, streetwear meets dandy, and Japanese and camouflage motifs.
After the show, guests had the chance to browse the creatively-arranged vitrines, which featured items spanning Pharrell's collaborations with Louis Vuitton until his 2024 debut. Some of the most notable items included a boombox from Women's Creative Director Nicholas Ghesquière, a 2002 Murakami-designed trunk, and a 2019 "cheese hat" from Abloh.
The Méndez Palace served as the official launch event for the collection, showcasing its innovative designs, highlighting the brand's commitment to embracing modern influences while honoring its roots. The fashion show was a testament to Pharrell's dedication to cementing his historical connection with Louis Vuitton while inspiring a new generation with his creative vision.
In the lead-up to the Louis Vuitton Men's Fall-Winter Show 2025, a discussion about historical fashion knowledge surfaced, mentioning that some young creatives were unaware of Louis Vuitton's founding father, despite being fans of Donatella and the brand. During this show, Pharrell Williams, as the Men's Creative Director, collaborated with Nigo, the BAPE founder and Kenzo Creative Director, celebrating their long-term friendship.
