Louis Vuitton’s Paris Fashion Week show took over the Louvre with a star-studded crowd and a killer collab between Pharrell and Nigo, mixing Americana streetwear with Japanese flair.
With Milan Fashion Week now done and dusted, all eyes turn to Paris, where the city of lights is eagerly anticipating stunning showcases from the biggest brands in the world.
Louis Vuitton kicked off Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday (21 January) with a breathtaking spectacle, transforming the heart of the prestigious Louvre museum into a dazzling stage for streetwear.
The collection brought together two separate talents: Vuitton menswear creative director Pharrell Williams, and Nigo, the artistic director of Kenzo menswear. The two first met in 2003, the same year each one launched his own streetwear brand.
The result was a striking blend of Pharrell’s Americana-inspired rugged denim and flared pants, paired with Nigo’s preppy silhouettes and intricate Japanese craftsmanship.
The streetwear-heavy collection was an exciting blend of cultures, featuring cherry blossom motifs on embroidered varsity jackets and Pharrell’s signature flared pants paired with Nigo’s traditional Japanese stitching techniques.
Camouflage, a streetwear standby, was over-embroidered with beads and sequins, or presented as a tapestry jacquard. Three new bag motifs included a damier “Phriendship” bag with silhouettes of the two designers’ profiles.
The partnership between Pharrell and Nigo was described in program notes as “a symbiosis between an archivist and a point of reference.”
While rare, such collaborations aren’t without precedent. In 2021, Versace and Fendi made headlines with their ‘Fendace’ collection, a designer swap that showcased the creativity possible when two distinct visions collide.
The transformation of the Louvre’s Cour Carrée into a futuristic runway added another layer of grandeur to the show.
Dramatic lighting and stark white decor contrasted with the venue’s classical architectural majesty, while large, glass-fronted boxes surrounding the circular stage lit up at the finale, unveiling archival Louis Vuitton pieces and underlining the house’s philosophy of blending tradition and innovation.
Louis Vuitton’s VIP list reflected its vast cultural reach, with guests spanning the worlds of cinema, music and sports. The star-studded guest list including acting giants Bradley Cooper, Omar Sy, Idris Elba and Adrien Brody, while rap legends Travis Scott, J Balvin and Future added their edge.
Men’s Paris Fashion Week runs until 26 January.
Check out the video in the webplayer above for a closer look at the LV showcase.