PHRIENDS AND LOVERS

Pharrell Williams is far from a classically trained designer, but his hyphenated creative practice has laid the groundwork for leading luxury menswear

- NIDA NAEEM

At the end of the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2024 presentation, Pharrell Williams walked down the historic Point Neuf bridge in Paris, bowing to the design team, hugging his family and thanking the audience. In the background, a Virginia-based choir belted out Joy (Unspeakable), which was, unsurprisingly, composed by Virginia-born Williams himself. It became evident that his recent appointment as the storied fashion house's men's creative director was about more than just harnessing his star power.

Dedicating the collection to the late Virgil Abloh, the show notes read, "This moment is dedicated to the giant before me. To our brother in spirit."

It is this brotherhood that has carried Williams so far, and is sure to carry him ahead as he figures out how to fill his predecessor's shoes. In fact, Abloh's commitment to uplifting Black talent and opening doors for others like him was whetted by Williams's cultural impact. On multiple occasions, he spoke of how the record producer, singer, and entrepreneur's risk-taking inspired him to be his own unique self as young Black creative. A full circle moment indeed.