As Milan’s fashion shows concluded, the style aficionados swiftly turned their attention to Paris on January 16, where Pharrell Williams hinted at a cowboy-themed opening day show for Louis Vuitton.
Despite the luxury sector’s ties to social inequality and environmental concerns within the fashion industry, it remains a pivotal success story in the European economy. The autumn/winter menswear collections from renowned brands like Dior, Hermes, and Loewe are currently taking center stage in Paris, continuing the fashion spectacle that commenced in Milan last week.
Pharrell Williams, the hip-hop star turned creative director at Louis Vuitton, showcased his second collection on January 16 against the backdrop of fairground rides at the Jardin d’Acclimatation, in close proximity to the company’s Louis Vuitton Foundation art museum—a structure estimated to have cost around 800 million euros to construct.
However, the brand’s grand showcases have not been without controversy, drawing criticism from local officials over perceived disruptions to daily life in Paris. Last summer, Williams commandeered the entire Pont Neuf bridge for his debut runway show, prompting the closure of traffic circulation in the city’s historic center. The intersection between fashion, music, and sports, exemplified by Williams’ role at Louis Vuitton, reflects the evolving and lucrative dynamics within the industry.
