Pharrell Williams was just named Louis Vuitton's menswear creative director. Here's a look back at how the style icon and business mogul snagged the most coveted job in fashion.
Williams, 49, got his start as one half of the hip-hop production duo The Neptunes.
He quickly rose to fame for his unique street style and collaborations with Louis Vuitton, Adidas, and Chanel.
He was named the successor of the late Virgil Abloh at Louis Vuitton on Tuesday.
Pharrell Williams, 49, and Louis Vuitton confirmed rumors on Tuesday that the musician turned fashion icon would join the brand as its new creative director for menswear.
The Virginia-native started off as a part of hip-hop production partnership The Neptunes with Chad Hugo in the early 1990s.
By the early 2000s, Williams became known for his personal style that was heavily influenced by his own interest in skateboarding, which was uncommon in the hip-hop industry at that time.
His first official venture into fashion happened in 2003 when Williams partnered with Japanese fashion designer Nigo to create sister streetwear brands Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream footwear.
A year later, in 2004, Williams collaborated with Louis Vuitton for the first time to co-design a line of eyewear and jewelry — including his iconic "Millionaire" sunglasses.
Adidas and Williams officially began their professional partnership in 2014, which birthed his "Human Race" collection that included sneakers and later a "Premium Basics" clothing collection.
Over the years, he became known for his iconic style choices that included unique eyewear and giant hats for a while.
View some of his most daring looks here.
In 2019, Chanel launched "The Chanel Pharrell Collection" — a capsule collection inspired by his relationship with the luxury brand.
In 2020, he launched his own skincare brand Humanrace.
In 2022, Williams and jewelry brand Tiffany & Co. announced a collaboration on a pair of blinged-out sunglasses that the producer has since been photographed in numerous times.
In 2022, Williams launched Joopiter, an online auction platform on which he sold some of the most iconic fashion pieces he's worn throughout his career.
Read more about the auction here.
Williams' predecessor is Virgil Abloh, the first Black creative director at Louis Vuitton, who held the position for nearly three years before his death in 2021.
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