Pharrell Williams was just named the new creative director of Louis Vuitton's menswear division
- Louis Vuitton tapped musician and entrepreneur Pharrell Williams as its next "Men's Creative Director."
- Williams is the second black American to hold the role, succeeding the late Virgil Abloh.
Pharrell Williams goes by many descriptors — singer, songwriter, music producer, streetwear entrepreneur, skincare entrepreneur, and all-around fashion icon.
On Tuesday, he added "Men's Creative Director" of Louis Vuitton to that list, according to an announcement on LVMH's site. The new role is effective immediately, the post noted.
Williams is the second black American to assume the role. When Louis Vuitton named Virgil Abloh its artistic director for menswear in 2018, he became the first black American to lead a European luxury fashion house. Abloh died in 2021 after battling a rare form of heart cancer.
Williams, already known as an award winning musical multi-hyphenate, has also made a name for himself in the fashion industry over the past several years.
In 2003, he partnered with Nigo — the Japanese fashion designer who currently serves as the artistic director for another LVMH brand, Kenzo — to launch a streetwear line called Billionaire Boys Club.
In 2008, he collaborated with Louis Vuitton's then artistic director, Marc Jacobs, on a jewelry collection for the brand. "Vuitton for me is a school," he told the AP in a video interview.
In 2014, Williams began a partnership with athletic wear giant Adidas, through which he has launched clothing and footwear, though the merchandise came under controversy for cultural appropriation in 2018.
Williams also launched a skincare line called Humanrace in 2020.
"I am glad to welcome Pharrell back home, after our collaborations in 2004 and 2008 for Louis Vuitton, as our new Men's Creative Director. His creative vision beyond fashion will undoubtedly lead Louis Vuitton towards a new and very exciting chapter" Pietro Beccari, Louis Vuitton's Chairman and CEO, noted in the announcement.
Louis Vuitton is also seeing strong growth on the heels of a pandemic-fueled boom in luxury. The fashion house earned $20 billion in revenue in 2022, doubling its revenue from just $10 billion in four years prior. Analysts say that at $20 billion, Louis Vuitton is the biggest luxury brand in the world, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Louis Vuitton is one of 75 brands under the LVMH umbrella— a luxury conglomerate who's chairman and CEO, Bernard Arnault, is the richest man in the world.
LVMH did not immediately respond to Insider's request for a comment.