When Pharrell presented his first official fall collection for Louis Vuitton Men’s in January, he honed in on the distinct, if well-trodden, motifs of the American West. “It was an honor to get a chance to do something around the West and Western workwear vibes,” Pharrell told press following his third LV runway show, which featured plenty of felted cowboy hats, embossed leather, and turquoise. (The collection also spawned a surprising collaboration with the British band Mumford & Sons.) “I feel like when you see cowboys portrayed, you see only a few versions. You never really get to see what some of the original cowboys really look like. They look like us, they look like me, they look Black, they look Native American.”
It’s a sentiment that underscores Louis Vuitton’s new workwear-themed capsule collection announced today, which features an array of Western-inspired ready-to-wear pieces including trucker jackets and embellished coats, as well as a limited-edition Keepall 50 Toolbox bag—a multi-pocketed tote that comes with its own steel-forged flask and cigarette case (!)—and the label’s hotly anticipated boot collaboration with Timberland. The cowboyish theme hitches nicely onto Pharrell’s ongoing (and increasingly global) evaluation of the contemporary dandy, with a hat-tip towards polished Americana.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
The LV x Timbs offerings will include a variation on the signature six-inch work boot, a slightly taller ankle boot, a pull-on midi boot, and a lace-hooked ranger boot—all in the classic wheat nubuck leather as well as black, with the Maison’s monogrammed detailing. Select pairs will be available for early purchase on July 18, with worldwide sales opening up on August 8.
“Timberland, it just makes sense,” Pharrell said of LV’s partnership with the ubiquitous American shoemaker in January. “It’s something that we love, but at the same time, whether you’re in the hood or you’re somewhere in a factory, Timberlands last long and it’s durable. And if you’re going to spend your disposable income at a time like this, it needs to be for something that’s actually really going to last. And the one thing that you know about Timberland is it’s going to last.”
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
While this marks LV’s first official linkup with the iconic footwear brand, Vuitton has been making Timberland-esque boots on and off since the Virgil Abloh era. The late, great menswear designer was a fierce proponent of the style, and partnered directly with Timberland through his Off-White label on several occasions. Pharrell, too, has worked with Timberland throughout his career, most notably via the beloved Bee Line imprint in the early 2010s.
Via gq.com
