Pharrell Williams, appointed Creative Director of Louis Vuitton in February 2023, continues to redefine the role with his sensibility and global eye. Known for his legacy as a chart-topping producer, musician, and fashion innovator, he brings a distinctly personal, culture-forward approach.

This season, he turned his gaze to India. Unveiled beneath the latticework of the Centre Pompidou, the Men’s Spring-Summer 2026 collection marked another step in the artist’s effort to collapse aesthetic and cultural borders under the Louis Vuitton umbrella.

The runway—created in collaboration with architect Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai—became a life-sized version of the classic Indian board game Snakes and Ladders. Like the game itself, the collection moved between progress and pause, weaving dandyism, mountaineering, softness, and surrealism throughout the garments. It emphasized the use of contrast, mixing utility with embellishment and structure with softness. Hiking socks were crystal-embellished, while mountaineering looks came styled with silk scarves, chain belts, and aged-gold anklets. There was no separation between function and ornament; both climbed the same ladder.

Pharrell drew from contemporary Indian dress codes, incorporating cricket-striped ties, layered waistcoats, sun-faded tailoring, and warm browns in place of traditional indigo denim. Shell suits appeared in shimmering metal yarns, and check patterns looked almost hand-painted.

The palette conveyed the hues of India’s landscapes—dusty browns, sun-washed corals, faded purples, and soft greens. That earthy softness carried into the materials as well. Louis Vuitton’s “Buttersoft” textures came through in puffy outerwear and pliable Speedy bags rendered in worn-in pastel ostrich. Adding a personal touch, Pharrell brought back The Darjeeling Limited motif—originally created for Wes Anderson’s 2007 film—stamping it across garments and accessories.

In attendance was an international roster of high-profile guests and longtime friends of the Maison. Beyoncé and Jay-Z, j-hope, Karol G, Victor Wembanyama, Bradley Cooper, Gong Yoo, Spike Lee, Future, Pusha T, PinkPantheress, Omar Sy, Stormzy, Jackson Wang, Yuta (NCT 127), V130 cover star Anok Yai, and VMAN 54 cover star A$AP Nast. The front row felt like a world tour, and that was the whole point.

Music, always central to his vision, shaped the emotional rhythm. For this runway show, he created an original score featuring gospel harmonies from Voices of Fire and Bishop Ezekiel Williams, along with a preview of a new collab between Doechii and Tyler, the Creator. A. R. Rahman’s “Yaara Punjabi” added a final layer of cultural depth.

This Paris Men’s Fashion Week, Pharrell laid down the board and made his move. With new textures to feel and concepts to explore, he’s found new ladders to climb. Where it all leads is anyone’s guess—but one thing’s certain: the game is in motion, and we’re watching it unfold.