Sanjika De Silva BP, Jadetimes Editor
Pharrell Williams, Louis Vuitton’s visionary men’s creative director, unveiled his highly anticipated Autumn/ Winter 2025 menswear collection in Paris, showcasing an extraordinary collaboration with Tokyo streetwear legend and BAPE founder, Nigo. Held against the iconic backdrop of the Louvre courtyard during Paris Fashion Week, the collection was not just a runway event but a vibrant celebration of friendship, creativity, and the enduring legacy of streetwear in contemporary fashion.
Nigo, the trailblazing designer behind A Bathing Ape (BAPE), revolutionized fashion in the 1990s. His brand’s limited-edition ethos producing as few as 50 pieces per collection and distributing many to proto-influencers was a masterstroke in cultivating exclusivity and hype. It wasn’t long before queues snaked outside BAPE stores, a phenomenon that cemented the foundations of modern streetwear and hype culture. In 2022, Nigo invited his musical collaborators, including A$AP Rocky, Pusha T, Kid Cudi, and Tyler, the Creator, to contribute to an album titled I Know Nigo. The playful title was a nod to his influence among rap and hip-hop’s elite, who proudly boasted of their connection to the designer.
Yet, among his many collaborations, Nigo’s relationship with Pharrell Williams stands out. The two met in the early 2000s through Jacob the Jeweler, a connection that blossomed into a deep friendship. Pharrell, recounting his first visit to Nigo’s Tokyo studio on a Beats 1 podcast, said, “I’d never seen anything like [it in my life].” Their bond led to the creation of Billionaire Boys Club in 2013, a label that fused their love for streetwear and luxury. Nigo’s influence became a cornerstone of Pharrell’s eclectic style, heavily inspired by Japanese street culture.
In recent years, the duo has taken Paris by storm as creative directors of two of the city’s most prestigious fashion houses: Pharrell at Louis Vuitton menswear and Nigo at Kenzo. For his latest Louis Vuitton collection, Pharrell brought Nigo on board as co-designer, crafting a line embodying the spirit of their friendship and artistic exchange. Pharrell described the collaboration as “an artistic manifestation of a friendship.” The collection notes emphasized the cross-pollination between Louis Vuitton, Pharrell, and Nigo, presenting their shared vision through a deeply personal lens.
The show’s setting, designed by Masamichi Katayama’s Wonderwall agency, was nothing short of spectacular. A giant Louis Vuitton trunk-inspired box dominated the Louvre courtyard, its damier-check exterior hinting at the heritage of the house. Inside, vitrines filled the space, reminiscent of Louis Vuitton’s archives.
In a dramatic finale, the frosted glass vitrines cleared, revealing a curated selection of personal artifacts from Pharrell’s and Nigo’s collections. Sneakers, playing cards, CDs, tapes, vintage clothing, and Louis Vuitton trunks stood alongside rare archival pieces from the house. This eclectic display underscored the central theme of the collection: the idea of collecting objects over a lifetime, shaped by the influence of relationships and culture.
Pharrell Williams and Nigo seamlessly blended multicultural influences with refined elegance in their latest collection, subtly referencing Tokyo through select garments. While graffiti-style prints evoked urban street culture, the collection remained devoid of overt political messaging, even amidst the heightened global attention following the inauguration of the new U.S. president, Donald Trump. Before Louis Vuitton’s presentation, the Japanese brand Auralee showcased its latest men’s and women’s collections in a combined fashion show. Designer Ryota Iwai introduced a thoughtfully curated line of elevated essentials, featuring loose-fitting suits paired with zip-up hooded sweatshirts, long knitted dresses, leather and wool jackets, and cropped outerwear. The collection highlighted meticulous craftsmanship and understated detail, reinforcing Auralee's reputation for sophistication.
The A/W 2025 collection exemplified the duo’s shared aesthetic, blending streetwear’s casual appeal with the sophistication of luxury fashion. Carpenter pants, denim jeans, and bomber jackets formed the backbone of the collection, elevated by vibrant patterns, crystal embellishments, and Japanese-inspired motifs.
Accessories stole the show, with highlights including a lobster-shaped handbag and the Damier Phriendship trunks' playful wheeled luggage adorned with Pharrell’s and Nigo’s profiles. The models, dressed in T-shirts and caps bearing “Shibuya” and “Paris,” bridged the cultural gap between Tokyo’s neon-lit streets and Parisian elegance.
Pharrell described the look as a contemporary take on the “dandy,” blending tailored sophistication with urban streetwear. This vision reflects his ongoing mission to “lionise” streetwear, elevating it to a level worthy of preservation alongside Louis Vuitton’s historical archives.
Pharrell and Nigo’s collaboration is more than a collection; it’s a dialogue between past and future. “It’s a conversation between the past and future,” Pharrell said. Through their creative synergy, the pair have solidified their place as curators of a new era in fashion, where streetwear and luxury coexist seamlessly. This collection is not only a testament to their friendship but also a celebration of the enduring cultural significance of streetwear in the global fashion landscape.
Pharrell and Nigo have shown the world that streetwear, like the Louis Vuitton trunk, is not just a product—it’s a legacy.
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