Pharrell Williams Calls Working For Louis Vuitton 'A Dream Come True'

"I am happy and honored to be here in [Hong Kong SAR] to present my second men's collection for Louis Vuitton. This city has incredible energy and after three and a half years in which it was held back by the pandemic and is now ready to be reborn even stronger." The designer-singer-producer Pharrell Williams, a few hours before the start of the fashion show-event dedicated to the Louis Vuitton Men's Pre-Fall 2024 collection, tells L'OFFICIEL his project for the flagship brand of the LVMH group. He is happy and honored by the moment he is experiencing, in terms of creative expression and personal feeling. He wears a gray sweatshirt by Kenzo Paris ("I wear it to support my great friend and brother Nigo") and nonchalantly shows off his Millionaire Speedy bag in yellow crocodile which became a cult immediately after revealing it in his Spring/Summer 2024 collection last July during Paris Men's Fashion Week. "I feel lucky for everything I have the opportunity to do in this maison. It's not a job, it's a dream that becomes reality every day."

L'OFFICIEL: What is the inspiration for this collection?

PHARRELL WILLIAMS: I started from the idea of ​​a [Hong Kong SAR] businessman on holiday in Hawaii. During his holidays, he has to make a quick trip for a meeting. He changes, chooses a formal wardrobe. And then he goes back to his moment of relaxation. Throughout the collection, I worked on some archetypes, such as that of the sailor. There is also a great focus on dandy aesthetics but above all there are all the visual codes that accompany me and my little obsessions, like pearls for example.


LO: The debut on the Pont Neuf in Paris with the first show and now this catwalk in Hong Kong SAR on the Avenue of Stars on the Victoria Dockside. What is your feeling?

PW: Paris was the starting point of a greater journey. I'm continuing to live a dream. A dream that comes true every time I see a snatch of a look, every time we work on an advertising campaign, every time I can collaborate with the people I love, like Rihanna or LeBron James. They are dreams that come true. I think I'm very lucky. And then the great platform of Louis Vuitton offers me a global [platform] to speak to the world. I feel honored to be here and to be able to bring this message to Asia through the city of [Hong Kong SAR].


LO: Why did you choose Hong Kong SAR for this show-event?

PW: Because this metropolis has experienced three and a half years of quarantine due to the pandemic, and is now ready for a renaissance. The cultural strength and affection of the people was incredible. And all the support we had from the government was also unique. People and institutions are working hard to restore [Hong Kong SAR] to an important role on a global level.


LO: What is your personal memory of Hong Kong SAR?

PW: I have performed here many times as a singer and this city has a unique and incredible energy. The music scene, the artistic scene, the creative scene linked to fashion, and also the culinary scene linked to food experiences make it truly unique. It is a city constantly in transformation where you can breathe life. Unstoppable.


LO: Your background is musical but you have always collaborated a lot with fashion. Which of the two worlds is the most difficult?

PW: Neither of them is difficult, I only see the opportunities, the gift, and the privilege I have of being able to deal with two universes in which creativity is at the center. Let's say it's an easy job for me but above all it's a dream. And being able to turn dreams into reality is the best job in the world.


LO: How are you feeling today?

PW: Considering the moment I'm living in, I feel privileged. I feel lucky every single day of my life.


LO: The Millionaire Speedy bag that you launched in your first show and wear has become a global cult. How did it come about, how did you create it?

PW: When I arrived at Louis Vuitton, I understood that there was a need to shake up the house, to project it into the future. And this bag is the essence of this concept. We worked on some cornerstones of the maison: the Speedy bag, the monogram, the color. But we tried to dismantle certain stereotypes. We kept the shape but experimented with a softer, more delicate material, which transformed the bag almost into a pet, a small puppy to always carry with you. And then we added the gold chain and experimented with unusual colors like this yellow. In reality, there was only one concept: to take this icon to a next level.


LO: Are you working on other iconic pieces like this?

PW: Absolutely, yes. There will be many other bags at the same level. And they will be incredible.