Musician and entrepreneur, Pharrell Williams is the second Black American designer to be the creative director of Louis Vuitton menswear. Earlier, Virgil Abloh made history as the first when he was appointed in March 2018. The appointment of Williams is effective immediately and his first collection is scheduled to be shown during Paris Men’s Fashion Week in June.
Louis Vuitton has named singer-songwriter-designer Pharrell Williams as the creative director of its menswear division, replacing the late Virgil Abloh. This marks the second time a Black American designer will head the position at the French luxury house. Previously Virgil Abloh made history as the first when he was appointed in March 2018.
The appointment of Williams is effective immediately and his first collection is scheduled to be shown during Paris Men’s Fashion Week in June.
The appointment of Pharrell Williams has added to the trend of brands hiring celebrities as creative directors, which is considered a corporate role.
Celebrity Creative Directors
In recent years, several celebrities have joined hands with brands in some of the most sought-after roles. Names like Jennifer Aniston and Drew Barrymore represented the corporate image of Vital Proteins and Garnier, respectively while Emily Ratajkowski was named creative director of face mask brand Loops in October 2020. In 2021, supermodel and influencer Kendall Jenner was also hired as the creative director of fashion brand FWRD and rapper Cardi B joined Playboy as its first creative director in residence.
However, it isn’t just famous women who made their name in the business world. Rapper Big Sean was named as the creative director of the Detroit Pistons in 2020, and will.i.am (William James Adams Jr.) was appointed as creative director for Intel.
This demand for celebrities in senior corporate roles has left consumers, followers, and industry professionals wondering if these appointments are strategic business decisions or mere PR stunts.
Why do…
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