PFW: Louis Vuitton Fall 2024 Collection
Thirty-four years after Louis Vuitton's namesake's inception, Louis Vuitton, with his son Louis Vuitton and his son Georges Vuitton, invented and trademarked the Damier Canvas pattern, which debuted at the Louis Vuitton and his son Georges Vuitton in 1889. Meaning checkerboard in French, the iconic print from the Maison was reintroduced a century later as the Damier Ebène, a black canvas base with a brown checkerboard printed over the base. The Maison would then introduce the Damier Azur (blue base and a white checkerboard overlay) and, for the 120th anniversary, the Damier Graphite. While recent interpretations of the print have expanded the color offering, --for example, the 2012 blue and orange Damier Adventure-- the Parisian fashion house has promised more "colorful interpretations in the future" for the "strong and recognizable pattern." Pharrell Williams, the Men's Creative Director for Vuitton, honors this pledge with the debuts of his menswear collections.
Pharrell's expansion of the Damier began with his first spring 2024 collection for the Maison. On the Pont Neuf, the oldest standing stone bridge in Paris, the multidisciplinary artist introduced the "Damouflage." On the runways, the classic earth-tone military print was digitized and checkered on two-piece suits, textured monogrammed coats, bags of all styles, and rain boots. For Fall 2024, the "Happy" songster took Louis Vuitton from Paris, France, "straight to the wild wild west," with a collection inspired by Black and Native American cowboys. Semi-precious turquoise gemstone buttons on suiting, shirting, outerwear, fringe details on coat hems, and flames, stars, and flowers embroidered on denim pant legs amplified the rodeo- messaging throughout the collection. As for William's latest Damier print interpretation, the Maison unveiled the "Cowmooflage," a bovine-inspired canvas pixelated print, and a Buffalo plaid-inspired Damier print. Both prints decorated the ready-to-wear and practical accessories and the four giant trunks wheeled by models down the runway.
"We’re expressing ourselves from a place of love, no judgment. Just think about telling your story and telling your people’s story as best you can and doing it candidly and with love—that’s the overwhelming feeling,” Williams told Vogue. As he helms over Louis Vuitton's menswear into 2024, our eyes are peeled to his evolving Damier story as the print turns 135th years old.
Louis Vuitton Fall 2024 Collection images courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
