Here’s an unexpected discovery: Google “Pharrell Williams” and “ski” in whatever permutation you can think of and you’ll come across a number of videos of skiers dancing to Williams’ infectious “Happy” hit. One video has even racked up 7.5 million views on YouTube. They’re largely from 10 years ago when, inspired by Williams’ official music video, fans of the song decided to create their own interpretations in the thousands—and for some reason, a number just so happens to be of people at ski resorts.
No one could have predicted that years down the road, Williams would go on to design ski wear. Louis Vuitton’s latest ski collection is Williams’ first as the Maison’s men’s creative director and, as one would expect, takes reference from the principles of his menswear proposals.
Louis Vuitton is no stranger to the sport, of course. It first released a ski-focused capsule collection in 2021 and has since continued to build on the aesthetics across both ski and après-ski offerings. This latest collection carries through the functionality required to participate in the sport with the infusion of state-of-the-art sustainability elements. Recycled fabrications are heavily used to construct ski suits and shell suits in order to limit the use of virgin materials and thus, reducing environmental impact. It may not exactly be the first consideration of any avid skier, but given the need to be more mindful of our environmental impact, and not to mention help ensure a future where skiing isn’t lost to climate change, it’s a welcome one.
The collection employs Williams’ Damoflage motif—a reimagining of Louis Vuitton’s Damier checks as a camouflage pattern—as an arctic adaptation that’s referred to as Damoflage Snow. The wintry palette of Damoflage Snow adorns everything from a technical ski shell suit (so that you’re a blur on the slopes) and an après-ski fleece tracksuit to accessories such as technical ski mittens and a reversible wool beanie. Damoflage Snow also informs the colour palette of the entire collection that’s replete with blacks, greys and whites.
On the more technical front, the collection has pretty much everything covered. Ski trousers are voluminous and padded, and a technical ski underlayer and its matching leggings are both crafted in mixed materials for extra protection. The LV Blizzard boot is constructed to be both durable and waterproof with an inside sock function as well as snow-proof ankle drawstring and ruching, while the LV Trainer and LV Trainer Snow have been reconstructed into technical waterproof performance sneakers. And to keep your eyes protected, the LV Snowfall ski mask is water- and fog-resistant, and crafted with a UV-protection, three-layer mask insulation with an adjustable strap (monogrammed of course) to ensure a comfortable, customised fit.
So, does Williams ski? Based on this first collection alone, he likely does. Or at the very least, has managed to put himself in the boots of a skier to create a collection that melds style and ski functionality—and that should make this season’s skiers rather happy.
