Pharrell Williams strikes Wild West note for Louis Vuitton menswear show in Paris
Williams showcased his autumn-winter 2024 collection during men’s fashion week in Paris with a nod to Native Americans
Pharrell WIlliams unveiled his third collection as creative director of Louis Vuitton yesterday during men’s fashion week in Paris, and the theme was clear: the classic Native American wardrobe is one to be celebrated in a rightful and authentic form.
The autumn-winter 2024 collection referenced western wear with a high-end take and included embellished denim chaps, fringed leather coats, classic bolo ties, expertly embroidered shirts with western motifs, and of course, accessories like structured cowboy hats and leather cowboy boots.
Williams complemented this with a contemporary take on classic Louis Vuitton bags, much like his two previous collections, and featured the iconic Speedy monogram canvas bag, travel bags, and micro styles in colourways that are reminiscent of the American West landscape, like warm brown, orange, and black tones.
“When you see cowboys portrayed you see only a few versions,” Williams said backstage after the show, according to The Guardian. “You never really get to see what some of the original cowboys looked like. They looked like us. They looked like me. They were black and they were Native American.”
Many of the collection’s accessories, like its handbags, were made in collaboration with Native American artists from the Dakota and Lakota nations. Meanwhile, the footwear was created in collaboration with American workwear brand Timberland.
Owned by the world’s leading luxury group LVMH, which recorded revenue of €79.2 billion in 2022, Louis Vuitton became the first luxury brand to record €20 billion in sales last year.
