A year after his sensational Louis Vuitton debut in Paris, musician and designer Pharrell Williams is back with yet another awe-inspiring men’s collection. “Le Monde Est à Vous” was presented on the grounds of UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Louis Vuitton’s international community of LVERS were assembled to commemorate the Maison’s spirit of travel against the backdrop of the emblematic globe, adjacent to the flags of the world fluttering in the wind, and the grassy runway painted with the brand’s iconic check pattern.
“It was an homage,” Mr. Williams said, “to human beings.” The show was a manifestation of his reverence for human brilliance and connection: “How can we show the world how appreciative we are and show the world how beautiful we are as a species, from the blackest of the black to the whitest of the white?”
The production commenced in typical Louis Vuitton fashion, with a pre-show gathering among Mr. Williams’ troop of famous friends and collaborators. Central Cee, Sabrina Carpenter, Colman Domingo, Michael Fassbender, Victor Wembanyana, and a dozen other A-listers graced the show.
For this new collection, the LV Men’s Creative Head imagined a palette that reflects the spectrum of skin tones of all the humans on the planet. “From black to dark brown to brown to light brown to beige, a little bit of gray in there. Then we got to light beige, and then finally to white,” said Mr. Williams. “I don’t know if you guys saw that,” he told GQ.
It was strikingly apparent as the first model strutted in a formal suit cut from the darkest velvet, while the other look featured a pearly white silk topcoat. The rest of the looks sported second-skin garments imitating animal hides, while the map-o-flage motif, a cartographic rendition, is evocative of delightful Odysseys.
The archetype of what Louis Vuitton called “global dandies” permeated their dynamic representations in this pret-a-porter collection, with diplomats in strict formalwear donning double-breasted coats and suits and pilots wearing cropped tailored jackets and bombers in an array of glistening leathers.
Skillfully crafted details of embroideries and plentiful buttons in muscular zip-ups for globetrotting secret agents. A monogrammed velvet sweatsuit, paired with a stylish safari jacket and a workwear shirt embellished with a pixelated reptilian damoflage print for the leisure traveler. A unique motif, blending Damier and camouflage into a Snake-o-Flage pattern, drew inspiration from Python graphics.
The idea of an explorer inspires suave manifestations of sportswear, and a jacket crafted out of leather cuts in the image of a soccer ball in a nod to the unifying global sport.
Louis Vuitton collaborated with the creative collective Air Afrique on graphics and patterns, particularly a Damier-suffused tartan and the blue and green check suits.
The ensembles are handsomely adorned with jewels, micro-monograms, and bespoke hardware that changes from season to season.
Accessories include sunglasses such as the LV Passport and jewels fit for opulent globetrotters, like gilded compass brooches. No Louis Vuitton collection is complete without its iconic trunks, which were wheeled in by the models, and bags that are the epitome of luxury and utility.
A new line of monogram luggage, crafted in leather, unlike the traditional canvas, accompanied the lineup. Like Mr. Williams’ widely acclaimed Speedy, the all-new soft leather goods bag line is embellished with metal plate charms inspired by archival trunk tags.
Live performances by Voices of Fire choir and L’Orchestre du Pont Neuf were featured, while the runway soundtrack included three Williams-produced pieces, starting with Triumphus Cosmos, followed by Birds Don’t Sing by Clipse featuring John Legend, and Falling Up.
Amalgamating his unique genius and the luxury of Maison’s savoir-faire, Mr. Williams has created a collection encapsulating his travel narratives and the spirit of universal celebration.