Pharrell to Take Over Virgil Abloh's Role at Louis Vuitton

According to “people familiar with the matter,” Pharrell Williams is currently “in talks” with Louis Vuitton to take over the late Virgil Abloh’s role as overseer of menswear. The news has not yet been acknowledged by either Pharrell or Louis Vuitton but it was reported to be confirmed on February 14 by longstanding French newspaper Le Figaro.

Pharrell would be Louis Vuitton’s first permanent head of menswear since Abloh passed in late 2021. The exact title that Pharrell would take at Louis Vuitton is unclear but Abloh was the luxury label’s “artistic director” of menswear and Pharrell, if he follows Abloh’s footsteps, would likely take the same or a similar title.

As of February 14, Pharrell has wiped his Instagram page, presumably ahead of the big announcement.

Louis Vuitton was without a permanent creative or artistic director for the entirety of 2022, instead presenting a series of tributes to Abloh and collections designed by the remaining menswear design team.

Most recently, Louis Vuitton appointed KidSuper founder Colm Dillane as guest creative director. Dillane’s sole Louis Vuitton collection, Fall/Winter 2023, was presented in January 2023 during Paris Fashion Week.

Dillane’s work was always intended to be a one-off, as Louis Vuitton made clear when it announced Dillane’s guest director role in 2022.

Abloh’s Louis Vuitton successor has been the subject of much discussion in fashion circles since his passing.

Pharrell, a longtime supporter and friend to Abloh, isn’t an obvious choice but he’s not such a far-fetched selection.

Currently overseeing his own Billionaire Boy’s Club and ICE CREAM labels — not quite comparable to Louis Vuitton but certainly adjacent to Abloh’s streetwear wheelhouse — Pharrell is also quite pally with several large luxury companies, including Chanel — for whom Pharrell designed a collection and became the first male fashion ambassador — and Tiffany & Co., owned by Louis Vuitton parent LVMH and with whom Pharrell is reportedly still working on a collaboration (indicated by his custom glasses).

No word if Pharrell’s work with Tiffany will continue post-LV appointment but hardly seems out of the question given that both are owned by the same conglomerate.