Pharrell Williams' talent hits you from all angles, music, acting, songwriting and fashion. So, it was no surprise that he was recently named the new creative director of Louis Vuitton's menswear line. Want to know the reasons behind this decision? Read on to find out...

From an African-American family, Pharrell began his musical career playing various instruments in the school band in his native Virginia. Soon after, as a teenager, he formed The Neptunes with his childhood friend Chad Hugo. That duo, backed by acclaimed producer Teddy Riley, became the producers of some of the biggest hits of the late 1990s and early 2000s, from Mariah Carey to Britney Spears, Janet Jackson and NSYNC, among many others. Also with Hugo, in 2001, he created the hip hop/rock band N.E.R.D., with whom he released four albums, and took his first steps in the fashion world.

The entrepreneur's relationship with the prestigious brand is not new. In fact, the singer first collaborated with Louis Vuitton almost two decades ago, with the launch of a line of sunglasses, Millonaire. Then, in 2008, with a jewellery collection called Blason. Both launches achieved great success, positioning Pharrell as one of the most promising designers.

The couture company called Pharrell Williams "a visionary whose creative universes extend from music to art to fashion, establishing himself as a global cultural icon over the past 20 years". In a statement, Pietro Beccari, president and CEO of Louis Vuitton said: "I am glad to welcome Pharrell back home, after our collaborations in 2004 and 2008 for Louis Vuitton, as our new men’s creative director. His creative vision beyond fashion will undoubtedly lead Louis Vuitton towards a new and very exciting chapter."

Although Williams is best known for his music career, the 49-year-old also has a strong set of credentials in the fashion world. He co-founded the urban menswear brand, Billionaire Boys Club, in 2003 with fashion designer Nigo, and IceCream, a menswear and womenswear brand with four shops in New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong and London.

A 13-time Grammy Award winner and two-time Oscar nominee, Williams has experience working with brands such as Tiffany & Co, Moncler, Uniqlo, G-Star and Adidas, as well as high fashion designers, including the late Karl Lagerfeld, with whom he designed a unisex clothing collection in 2018. He also starred in a hugely popular sneaker collaboration with Chanel in 2017.

Pharrell has also developed in the cosmetic beauty universe with the launch in 2020 of Humanrace, an all-gender cosmetics firm with vegan products. The singer of the positivist anthem 'Happy' created a skincare brand starting with three sustainable products. A project he describes as a "three-minute facial", with three essential products in his daily facial routine. About the brand, the singer said: "Every human should feel empowered to follow their own path to an improved mind, body and soul."

The musician has been elevated to the status of fashion icon and style reference - with a title awarded by the CFDA in 2015. Designer and CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg said: “If cool was a person, it would be Pharrell, not just for his looks and sense of style but for his kindness and openness. I cannot imagine anyone not seduced by him.” If there are two adjectives that define his style, they are irreverent and unexpected. From XXL top hats, dinner jacket shorts, suit jackets with trainers, to his now exclusive Tiffany sunglasses, Williams' bold personal style often makes headlines and he is no stranger to the fashion front row.

Williams' creativity is interdisciplinary: in early 2022, he announced that he was participating in an ambitious new hotel project, expected to open next year in the Bahamas, and during the pandemic he launched a portable cutlery set to limit single-use plastic consumption when eating outdoors.

Williams takes over the position that was vacant for more than a year after Virgil Abloh's death. The position of creative director of menswear at Louis Vuitton had remained vacant since November 2021, when Abloh died at 41 after a long battle with cancer. Abloh was a designer known for his innovative personality and for creating trends by fusing haute couture with urban fashion. He was also the first black menswear director at Louis Vuitton. Pharrell's appointment takes immediate effect and he will make his debut at Paris Men's Fashion Week in June.

As creative director of menswear, Williams will be responsible for producing two collections a year, including handbags, accessories and ready-to-wear. Williams' appointment to a senior position at the world's largest luxury brand also points to the continuing cultural importance of hip-hop, further cementing its status as a global fashion powerhouse.