Pharrell & NIGO’s Louis Vuitton Collection Is Over a Decade in the Making
When Jacob The Jeweler introduced Pharrell Williams and NIGO to each other in a recording studio in the early 2000s, nobody could’ve predicted it would spark a decade-plus partnership. And certainly, nobody at the time could’ve imagined that they’d end up creating a Louis Vuitton collection together.
Well, fast forward to 2025 and the time has come: Louis Vuitton’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection is a partnership between LV creative director Pharrell and NIGO.
In their longstanding friendship and professional relationship, NIGO and Pharrell have achieved a lot together — they’ve founded brands, released songs, and launched their own drinks company, for example — however, this is undoubtedly their most high-profile venture to date.
In Paris, on January 21, the duo reunites at the helm of the world’s most valuable fashion brand. Pharrell and NIGO are all over Louis Vuitton FW25, literally, with drawings of their faces, as seen in the pre-show teasers, appearing on beanies, massive trunks, and even neckties.
The presentation started with formal looks, followed with sprinklings of streetwear-coded ensembles, almost like watching Pharrell and Nigo's style journey and taking us back to where it all started. Patchwork denims and baggy printed 'fits mingled with embellished Damier cardigans and Coogi-flavored sweaters. There were also a few sophisticated seasonal coats plus fur-hooded jackets that evoked the feels of that one Lil Wayne BAPE outfit from the early 2000s (yeah, that one).
Louis Vuitton FW25 also included hiking-style boots, puffy slippers, and those chunky Cortez-ish "skate shoes," which were previewed days before the show. Oh, and Louis Vuitton bags were again aplenty and playful, from teeny-tiny iterations to house icons sporting dice and lobster charms.
Large showcase boxes revealed archival Louis Vuitton pieces at the end of the show, which are actually items from the latest Joopiter auction titled "Nigo Knows." Yes, the Louis Vuitton show was basically a Joopiter auction, too!
NIGO and Pharrell took their bows at the end of the presentation, and the lyrical timing of The Weekend's "Timeless" song couldn't have been better: "Feel like Skateboard P, BBC boys on the creep."
Rumblings of this partnership have been circulating in the lead-up to Louis Vuitton’s FW25 show (although Louis Vuitton remained tight-lipped when asked by Highsnobiety about the potential Nigo x Pharrell reunion). Until, through his second Instagram account named Skateboard, Pharrell all but confirmed the rumors.
Pharrell has even shared a look at some upcoming designs, a checkerboard bag and vest emblazoned with illustrations of his and NIGO's faces. These are likely staff uniforms for the show but give an indication of what the duo is cooking up.
There is some precedent for NIGO to team up with LV for a limited-edition collection. Previous Louis Vuitton Men’s creative director, the late Virgil Abloh, had an ongoing collection with the Japanese designer which this is essentially the successor of.
Since his last collection with Louis Vuitton, NIGO has become the creative director of fellow LVMH-owned label KENZO. And in a surprise move, he is also showing KENZO's menswear collection in Paris on January 24 (KENZO normally presents a co-ed show later in the year, on the Paris Fashion Week women's schedule).
That means two NIGO-led fashion shows are landing in Paris within the same week. It's a busy time for the famed Japanese designer.
