Pharrell and Louis Vuitton's Journey From Hawaii to Hong Kong
It’s more than five thousand miles from Honolulu to Victoria Harbour. In between, it’s open ocean, the odd pinprick of an island punctuating all that blue. The distance is imposing.
Unless you’re Pharrell Williams. Hawaii and Hong Kong may seem far removed from each other—culturally and geographically—but Pharrell doesn’t see it that way. Travel. The sea. The inevitable mash-up of people and the perspectives that come with them. They pull the two together, and they’re exactly what Pharrell explores in his latest collection for Louis Vuitton, in which nautical themes, surf-inspired styling, and bold prints meet upscale fabrications and city-ready silhouettes. It works, especially if you’re the type of guy who catches a wave in the morning and a private jet in the afternoon.
This is no coincidence. As a musician, a producer, and—since early 2023—the men’s creative director of one of the biggest fashion labels on the planet, Pharrell is a specialist in melding disparate ideas and identities and transforming them into something greater than the sum of their parts. People, places, and what they mean to each other emotionally are at the forefront of his work.
His debut collection at Louis Vuitton drew a line between his hometown of Virginia Beach and his newly adopted base in Paris, taking American icons like the varsity jacket and adding intricate “Lovers”-themed embroidery to the back, a nod to Virginia’s slogan. (It’s “for lovers,” as you surely know.) This time around, the vision has evolved. There are the breezy styles—Bermuda shorts in bold prints, often with matching shirts—you’d expect to find beachside. There are nautical nods, like double-breasted suits and blazers with brass-circled buttons. And there are items destined for downtown, like streamlined leather jackets and dark denim with the iconic Vuitton monogram. But it’s when sand and sea come together—as they do on standout pieces like high-waisted flared trousers emblazoned with a bright pink tropical print—that you see the throughline of Pharrell’s overarching project. The search for a common thread is at the core of everything.
Because above all else, Pharrell understands that clothing is a means of cultural communication in our shared journey. And yes, you’ll also look very cool along the way.
Tank and trousers ($1,470) by Louis Vuitton Men’s; Volt ring ($4,050) and V-ring ($1,940) by Louis Vuitton Fine Jewelry; Tambour watch ($26,500) by Louis Vuitton.
Jacket ($3,300), shirt, and trousers by Louis Vuitton Men’s; model’s own earrings.
Leather jacket ($5,750), shirt ($1,840), shorts ($1,350), necklace ($2,840), socks, and earring by Louis Vuitton Men’s.
Shirt ($1,350), necklace ($2,840), and earring by Louis Vuitton Men’s; boxers by Schostal Originals.
Tank, shorts ($1,210), and hat ($665) by Louis Vuitton Men’s.
Jacket ($3,050), tank, trousers ($1,590), loafers ($1,730), belt, necklace ($700), and earring by Louis Vuitton Men’s.
Hair by Dennis Lanni using Dyson Pro Tools. Grooming by Devra Kinery using Mario Badescu. Tailoring by Todd Thomas.
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