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Background

Pharrell Williams has been part of the global cultural consciousness for the better part of two decades as a rapper, songwriter and music producer. But earlier this year, when he was named men's creative director for Louis Vuitton, his career took on a whole new trajectory.

This week on The BoF Podcast, Williams joins BoF founder and editor-in-chief Imran Amed to discuss his new vision for luxury at Louis Vuitton as part of a BoF 500 cover story, examining his journey into the luxury industry, his vision for Louis Vuitton and how he is thinking about stepping into the shoes of his predecessor Virgil Abloh.

"He has giant shoes for one to try to fill. But that's not what I'm here to do,"Williams told Amed on the podcast."I'm not here to fill my brother's shoes. My brother's shoes are his shoes. And the steps that he took are his steps. And I would never want to get in the way of that."

Key Insights

Williams is approaching the design process from the point of view of a customer. "When I got here, I was so excited and I knew all the things that I wanted to do because I am the consumer," he says. "I know what it is that I'm looking for so I design from the lenses of what it is that I'm going to need."

Williams has his eye on expanding the Louis Vuitton brand, not just in terms of sales volume, but also the brand's core values and who it aligns itself with, hinting at forming new partnerships. "Growth is not just in sales growth, it's also growth in perspective," he says.

At the core of Williams' mission is to make Louis Vuitton menswear centred around people, both its customers and those who work for the brand. "The material items that we offer are important, and these are beautiful objects, but they are the result of something more valuable, which is the humans and their ideas that work here ... that's what you're buying."

For those looking to find their own creative path , Williams' advice is simple: "When you see a block, there's a way around it...Curiosity is going to be the fuel to help you do that," he explains. "And don't look back. For what? You can see how far you come later."

Additional Resources

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The BoF Podcast | Pharrell Williams On His Vision for Louis Vuitton

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BoF's founder and editor-in-chief Imran Amed sits down with the men's creative director of Louis Vuitton to discuss his journey into the luxury industry and his plans for the world's largest luxury brand.

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Campaign Manager Running - Berlin job with On | 256527

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We are seeking a Campaign Manager with a strong passion for Running to work on On's global campaigns/ projects for our most committed runners- the ...

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Carhartt WIP is part of the WIP Trading AG. Our family-owned business group started as a licensee and European distributor of the US workwear manufacturer Carhartt in the early 1990s. Since then, it develops its own collections based on workwear originals.

Carhartt Work In Progress aims to continuously progress and evolve, without ever losing sight of its origins. Over the course of the past two decades, our business has developed organically, along with its customers, the culture that surrounds the brand, and its employees who have helped shape what Carhartt WIP is today.

For our office in Berlin we are looking for you as Marketing Manager (m/f/x) Germany / Austria / Switzerland.
Your Responsibilities:

Mirror Carhartt WIPs global marketing plan in the market Development and production of B2B & B2C marketing Editorial work for Carhartt WIPs German, Austrian and Swiss social media channels Conceptualize, plan, and produce projects and events. Activate product placement and seeding activities Production of photoshoots Check marketing invoices and budget; be in touch with accounting Be connected to Carhartt WIPs European Marketing Team Regularly presenting and reporting of the above activities

Excellent knowledge, deep connection and understanding of fashion, music, skate, art and sub cultures Successfully completed studies in marketing/management/communication or equivalent Several years of professional experience in the marketing environment or comparable High level of self-organization, communication, multitasking and improvisation Strong interest in digital/social media and new technologies Good knowledge and understanding of MS-Office and KeyNote Fluency in German and English, with excellent verbal and written communication skills Willing to travel
Your Benefits:

We offer you cultural diversity through cooperation with our international locations A flexible working environment with an independent way of working is also provided to you We have quick decision-making processes due to our flat organisational structure We offer you an attractive company pension scheme and the opportunity to lease a JobRad bike You work in the heart of Berlin in our office in Kreuzberg
Your Location: Berlin / Germany

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Marketing Manager GAS (m/f/x) - Berlin (DE) job with Carhartt Work In Progress | 255848

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Carhartt WIP is part of the WIP Trading AG. Our family-owned business group started as a licensee and European distributor of the US workwear manuf...

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•Have experience working within luxury (retail, fashion and beauty)

events/experiences

•Have an array of city centre connections

•Be a brand guardian for the store and for Selfridges

•Plenty of Creative flair/ a creative eye, with an interest in arts and culture The Ideal Candidate

•High level Event Production experience

•Proven track record in producing multiple projects

•Excellent Project Management Skills

•Experience in partnerships

•Exceptionally good networker

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- Ability to work under pressure, meet tight timelines, prioritize tasks, and find solutions without compromising quality or positivity
- Exceptional initiative, attention to detail, and follow-through skills while keeping sight of the bigger picture
- Excellent presentation skills
- Fluent in English
- Proficiency in Asana and Google Workspace is a plus

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•Support Senior Event Manager to curate, develop & deliver strategic communications, events and experiences across all categories

•Work directly with key leads within the marketing and retail teams to produce a comprehensive, strategy led programme of events and experiences

•Be the main contact for the Exchange Square Store and drive awareness and footfall as well as deliver key events in the space

•Produce, Project Manage and Deliver events and activities to an exceptionally high standard

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-Campaign management: Collaborate with the Creative Studio and Studio producer to develop state-of-the-art campaigns, with a strong focus on optimizing the consumer journey along the marketing funnel. Monitor budget allocation and carefully schedule project timelines, all while fostering an environment that encourages creativity and innovation
- Cross-functional collaboration: Engage in close collaboration with regional teams across Americas, APAC, and EMEA, as well as various cross-functional teams such as Athlete Management, Sales, Brand Communications, Strategy & Product amongst other critical functions
- Problem-solving and ownership: Demonstrate exceptional problem-solving skills, project management expertise, and effective communication across all levels of stakeholders. Drive projects forward, meet tight timelines, prioritize tasks, and find solutions while maintaining a positive and collaborative spirit

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The nine Belbin Team Roles; their strengths and weaknesses, and how to use the nine Belbin Team Roles when working with a team. To find out your Belbin Team Role profile you need to complete the Belbin Self-Perception Inventory and ask for feedback from those you work with. This generates a Belbin Team Role Report which can be use in a myriad of ways.

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Content creation

Time keeping

Organisational skills

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Workshops

Linkedin learning

Podcasts from industry professionals

Rise opportunities

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LinkedIn Learning with Lynda: Online Training Courses for Creative, Technology, Business Skills

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LinkedIn Learning with Lynda: Online Training Courses for Creative, Technology, Business Skills

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Learn business, creative, and technology skills to achieve your personal and professional goals. Join LinkedIn Learning today to get access to thousands of courses. Lynda is now LinkedIn Learning.

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Connecting with potential employers (Linkedin)

Reports (BoF, Mintel)

Youtube videos

Recent marketing campaigns I take inspiration from - A Cold Wall, JD Sports

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Inspiring individuals - Pharrell Williams, Dapper Dan, Martine Rose

Articles and reports

Listening and reading about people of interest

Following people of interest on social media

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Daniel Day, known as Dapper Dan, is a Harlem couturier known as the "king of knock-offs." He made his name in the late '80s and '90s as the tailor who provided rap culture with its signature gangster-inspired style, reworking traditional luxury-house products to outfit a slew of emerging hip-hop stars, athletes and gamblers including the likes of LL Cool J, James Jackson and Floyd Mayweather. He returned to prominence in 2018 after a cultural appropriation scandal led Gucci to finance the rebirth of his business and include him in its diversity council.

Born in New York, Dan dropped out of school and was linked to shoplifting and gang activity. Upon enrolling in an education programme sponsored by Columbia University, he took a trip to Africa and returned in 1974 with a newly sparked interest in fashion, opening his own 24-hour store in 1982, built on a made-to-order customisation model, powered by Dan's regular visits to luxury department stores where he would buy up the monogrammed hardware as stock. His work was put on the map when he designed outfits for hip-hop artists' Eric B and Rakim's cover of their 1987 "Paid in Full" album.

While luxury brands took notice of Dan's reworked logo prints, he faced lawsuits that claimed he had violated brands' copyrights, and by 1992, after a raid on his boutique led by Fendi, he shut down the store.

In 2018, Gucci's Cruise show featured a balloon-sleeved mink bomber jacket that showed similarities to Dan's 1989 Louis Vuitton version for Diane Dixon. The garment sparked online outrage over appropriation. Though it dismissed the rumours as a homage, Gucci teamed up with Dan on a capsule collection inspired by his archive, released a limited-edition book, "Dapper Dan's Harlem" and made Dan the face of the #GucciTailoring campaign. In 2018 Gucci opened an invitation-only atelier with Dan in a joint venture, supplying fabrics for his new creations.

Dan's work was also highlighted as part of the MOMA's "Items: Is Fashion Modern?" exhibit, and he starred in AT&T's short film chronicling street style history alongside .

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Dapper Dan | BoF 500 | The People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry

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The underground Harlem couturier of the 1980s returned to prominence after a cultural appropriation scandal led Gucci to finance the rebirth of his business.

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A handcrafted capsule collection, designed by Martine Rose for Stella Artois. Incorporating signature Martine Rose styles and logos with iconic Stella Artois branding.