Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2026: A Sartorial Passage from Paris to India

Source: Louis Vuitton 

Reported By: Caroline Dalal

On June 24, 2025, the Centre Pompidou was reimagined—its iconic façade flanked not just by fashion's elite but by a life-size Snakes and Ladders board, transformed into a metaphor for possibility. This was not just another show—it was Pharrell Williams’ vision for Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2026 Men’s Collection. A rich tapestry of Indian sartorial heritage, architecture, and cinematic storytelling unfolded, rendered through the refined lens of global dandyism.

Collaborating with Studio Mumbai and its founder Bijoy Jain, the scenography masterfully bridged the House’s identity as a purveyor of travel and India’s meditative design language. Together, they wove a multisensory tableau where natural materials, sun-faded hues, and soft silhouettes harmonized with echoes of hand-painted signage and antique trunks.

Pharrell’s creative direction was steeped in present-day Indian sartorialism—where cloth, climate, and color converge with craftsmanship and city life. Tailoring leaned toward spontaneity: waistcoats layered over sun-brushed shirts, jackets cut in gentle silhouettes, and trousers styled with lived-in elegance. These weren’t costumes—they were characters. The kind who traverse continents, carrying with them the stories stitched into their seams.

In a collection where fabric is as central as form, denim in coffee-toned brown replaces traditional indigo—achieved through weaving rather than dyeing, allowing white threads to emerge subtly with wear. A nod to both innovation and sustainability, the material resonates with India’s deep-rooted relationship with textiles.

Pharrell’s penchant for storytelling finds resonance in a collection-wide revival of The Darjeeling Limited—Wes Anderson’s 2007 ode to brotherhood, baggage (both literal and emotional), and India. For the first time, the custom Louis Vuitton motif created for the film migrates from screen to runway. Embroidered into garments and accessories, it appears on silk squares, structured trunks, and the iconic Speedy P9, reimagined in everything from ostrich leather to scarf prints and tree-of-life weaves.

The collection subtly nods to India’s mountaineering culture through “glamping” looks—refined shell jackets, fleece blousons, and hiking boots transformed through embellishment and elegant fabrics. Hiking socks get the crystal-and-lace treatment, while derby loafers, LV Jazz lace-ups, and voluminous flip-flops add whimsy and age-worn appeal.

The result? A wardrobe that feels at once grounded and elevated—whether you're climbing metaphorical ladders or traversing cobbled alleys in Jaipur.

In classic Pharrell fashion, softness became a language. The collection introduced the LV BUTTERSOFT Sneaker and supple Speedy P9 bags in ostrich, crocodile, and faded pastels. Accessories didn’t merely accessorize—they told stories. Check shell suits wove metal yarn like wearable jewelry, while jewellery collections featured filigreed sterling silver and guilloché bangles flecked with semi-precious stones.

Even sunglasses followed suit, their frameless tops and faded lenses evoking the bleaching kiss of summer sunlight—an homage to the Indian sun that inspired the palette itself, where purple replaces black, and every shade feels brushed by heat and memory.

Sound was as integral as style. Pharrell's original score, performed by Voices of Fire and l’Orchestre du Pont Neuf, was a sonic extension of the show’s cultural dialogue. “Miracle Worker,” “Yaara Punjabi” co-produced with A.R. Rahman, and the finale featuring Doechii and Tyler, the Creator, built an emotional crescendo. Together, they celebrated not just fashion, but the interconnectedness of creativity—across nations, mediums, and generations.

Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2026 Men’s Collection isn’t a detour—it’s a deliberate step forward. Under Pharrell’s direction, the House doesn't merely adopt motifs or aesthetics from India; it engages in dialogue with them. The result is a show that feels both intimate and expansive, personal yet universally resonant.