PHARRELL Williams is the superstar behind scores of music's earworms, whose agelessness, sharp taste and forays into design have also made him a fixture on the fashion circuit for decades.
The pop culture renaissance man will now head menswear design for Louis Vuitton, stepping into the shoes of Virgil Abloh and becoming, after his predecessor, the second Black man to take on the role.
The trailblazing Abloh died of cancer in November 2021, and his spot at the European luxury house has remained vacant since.
Williams, 49, was not among those most rumored as the successor, but his streetwise sensibility meshes well with the brand's recent push to attract younger audiences.
Louis Vuitton head Pietro Beccari praised Pharrell's "creative vision beyond fashion," saying it would lead the label "towards a new and very exciting chapter."
In addition to teaming with brands including Adidas, Diesel, Chanel and Moncler, the prolific songwriter, producer and performer already partnered with Louis Vuitton, including in 2008 on a jewelry and sunglasses line.
He and his longtime partner, the fashion designer Helen Lasichanh, wed in 2013.
In 2016 Williams was named co-owner of jeans brand G-Star Raw, and also co-founded the Japanese clothing maker Billionaire Boys Club.
He was also a fan of Abloh's: "Virgil you were a kind, generous, thoughtful creative genius your work as a human and your work as a spiritual being will live forever," he wrote upon the designer's death.
- Music mogul -
Born April 5, 1973 in the coastal US city of Virginia Beach, Williams and his childhood band camp friend Chad Hugo rose to fame beginning in the 1990s as the duo The Neptunes, after they were discovered by New Jack Swing architect Teddy Riley.
The polymaths shifted the sound of pop entirely, producing hit after hit, including Nelly's "Hot in Herre" and Britney Spears' "I'm a Slave 4 U."
Their shortlist of collaborations includes Gwen Stefani, Kelis, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Madonna and Snoop Dogg. Williams also worked with major acts including Maroon 5 and Shakira -- and of course Daft Punk, including the songs "Get Lucky" and "Lose Yourself to Dance."
Williams also is a star performer in his own right, including with the globally viral hit "Happy," as well as "Blurred Lines" which he performed with Robin Thicke and T.I.
The Oscar nominee with 13 Grammy wins last year was inducted into the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame as part of The Neptunes.
That night, wearing a showstopping cherry red leather suit, the ever-luminous artist -- whose porcelain, seemingly ageless skin has spawned myriad beauty articles as well as a skincare line -- delivered a lengthy ode to songwriting.
"When that sparkle hits you feel it in your bone, you feel it in your body," he said. "You feel this sense of direction."
That urgent creative spirit is sure to be a boon at Louis Vuitton: Pharrell's first collection is due to hit the runways next June during Men's Fashion Week, the label said.
ETX Studio
Wed Feb 15 2023
Pharrell Williams, the pop culture renaissance man will now head menswear design for Louis Vuitton. - ETX Studio
Tiada tepung di pasaran tempatan mengandungi benzoil peroksida melebihi kadar dibenarkan - KKM
Tiada mana-mana jenama tepung di pasaran tempatan mengandungi benzoil peroksida melebihi paras yang dibenarkan di bawah undang-undang.
Freedom Flotilla to Gaza: Semua delegasi diminta pulang, FFC akan maklumkan tarikh baharu misi
Menurut Jawatankuasa Pemandu FFC, Ann Wright, pihaknya akan memaklumkan perkembangan terbaharu kepada semua delegasi terlibat sekiranya tarikh akhir pelayaran ditetapkan.
Bytedance enggan jual TikTok di Amerika Syarikat
BYTEDANCE kini mengatakan mereka tidak akan menjual perniagaan TikTok di Amerika Syarikat (AS).
Malaysia komited tingkat hubungan dua hala bersama Libya
Malaysia terus komited mempertingkatkan hubungan dua hala yang berterusan bersama Libya demi manfaat bersama dalam pelbagai sektor.
Cegah jenayah: Kerjasama komuniti kekang jenayah secara holistik
Jelasnya, program seumpama ini diharap dapat memberikan pendedahan tentang pencegahan jenayah dan menzahirkan aspirasi PDRM untuk penglibatan aktif warga komuniti dalam memerangi aktiviti jenayah.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Boon Lai tarik diri saat akhir
Hasrat Chng Boon Lai menjadi salah seorang calon Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kuala Kubu Baharu tidak kesampaian.
PRK N06 KKB: Kerajaan Perpaduan akan dibebani dengan isu semasa - Muhyiddin
Pilihan Raya Kecil Kuala Kubu Baharu kali ini akan menyaksikan Kerajaan Perpaduan ‘dibebani’ dengan isu-isu semasa yang dilihat membebankan rakyat, tegas bekas Perdana Menteri yang juga Pengerusi Perikatan Nasional, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
PRK N06 KKB: UMNO, BN dukung calon PH demi Kerajaan Perpaduan – Ahmad Zahid
UMNO dan Barisan Nasional berpegang kepada prinsip mendukung calon yang mewakili Kerajaan Perpaduan, iaitu Pang Sock Tao, biarpun beliau berasal daripada parti DAP yang pernah menjadi seteru mereka satu ketika dulu.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Isu akademik, Khairul Azhari mahu fokus pilihan raya
Calon PN bagi PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu, Khairul Azhari Saut enggan mengulas kontroversi melibatkan kelayakan akademiknya yang tular.
AWANI Ringkas: Pertembungan PKR, PN, PRM & Bebas
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.