Louis Vuitton’s SS 26 Men’s Collection Celebrates Worldwide Community, Travel, and Indian Heritage
Pharrell Williams and his limitless creative vision merged to create Louis Vuitton’s Spring Summer 2026 Men’s Collection, inspired by Indian culture and the spirit of travel. The dismal truth is that travel, culture, and the worldwide community are often overlooked in the non-stop bustle of life and work. Still, Williams is transcending fashion by highlighting the spirit of travel and culture, challenging this truth.
Louis Vuitton debuted its Spring Summer 2026 Men’s Collection on June 24th in Paris at the Centre Pompidou, celebrating Indian culture and its connection to the modern world. Staged on a checkered runway to emulate the ancient, Indian “Snakes and Ladders” game, the models and audience immediately became immersed in the experience, representing possibility and the intersection of man and nature. Designed by the visionaries at Studio Mumbai, the space seamlessly fused Indian tradition with modernity.
During the pre-show, celebrities like Bradley Cooper, Future, and Jackson Wang flocked in style and posed beside an LV-branded dice sculpture, furthering the motif of games and possibility apparent in the show. Most notably, styled in a denim jumpsuit, a western cowboy hat, and a larger-than-life fur, Beyoncé thrilled the audience with her appearance, signaling the commencement of the show.
The garments themselves encompass different elements of Indian culture, but cohesively form a collection rooted in sartorial elegance. With an emphasis on materials and craftsmanship, each piece exemplifies the pinnacle of dandyism, yet remains laid-back and leisure-focused.
A few themes and trends emerge from this collection, but at the forefront is the emphasis on colors and textures. Fluent in Indian culture, the colors are inspired by the cityscapes and nature of the country. The collection is dominated by deep purple hues paired with classic browns, creating a nuanced juxtaposition that is unlikely for warmer seasons. Brown permeates the collection, serving as an alternative to indigo denim washes. Implemented in weaving rather than dying allows for white threads to reveal themselves, and the nuanced worn touch makes this collection unique.
One look effortlessly blends this color combination: caramel-brown, tailored shorts, and a deep purple and white woven sweater. Textures are integral to every look, offering a tactile experience simply by glancing at the ensembles. The woven nature of the sweater evokes a master of craftsmanship, especially with the purple fringed hem adding interest and prestige to the look. Many of the garments in the collection are adorned with stripes and checkered patterns, which certainly add to the thematic board game setting and create a three-dimensional illusion—or as the French call it, trompe l’oeil—a tactic to deceive the eye. Underneath the sweater is a subtly striped button-down, with a peak of purple to pull the entire ensemble together. Accompanied by an unassuming boat shoe, the look remains prim yet leisurely, representing the theme of the collection.
The deeper colors evoke a sense of autumnal warmth, yet the silhouettes mark them as uniquely airy, just like a summer breeze. The lines throughout the collection are instinctive and ultimately define the garments as summer. From cropped blazers and trouser shorts to elevated waistcoats and layered jackets, there is no shortage of lived-in elegance. The collection feels achievable and welcoming, just like traveling to a new country should.
As an homage to the 2007 film The Darjeeling Limited, the collection features a motif that was once prevalent in the movie. The eccentric Wes Anderson film follows three brothers as they embark on a healing journey across India following their father’s death, and a bespoke, animal-painted, Louis Vuitton luggage set is featured throughout the film. Fast forward to today, brazen elephants, zebras, giraffes, and rhinoceroses dance around jackets and trunks in this collection, tying back to the movie.
Heavily inspired by the concept of “glamping,” a pivotal part of the collection features outdoor wear elevated to the highest standards. Mountaineering culture is present in India, but when brought to Paris, Williams heightens the garments with opulent embellishments and meticulous embroidery. An olive green puffer coat, though seemingly minimal from the front, is embellished with semi-precious gemstones on the hood. Intricately detailed shell jackets, weatherproof fleece-like blousons, and hiking boots are showcased in the collection, reflecting the spirit of the traveler. The collaboration between outdoor wear and opulence creates a striking contrast, instinctively aligning with Louis Vuitton’s commitment to sartorialism.
Heritage styles get an upgrade in this collection, with intricate details heightening their already iconic looks. The classic Speedy P9 bags are amplified with painted stripes, vibrant monogram embroidery, and gold thread. With a heavy focus on colors in this collection, new styles include a range of faded pastels in ostrich, green crocodile, lavish scarf prints, and tree-of-life carpet weave. Even better, the classic Speedy P9 bag gets an upgrade with stripes and emblematic LV logos.
No outfit is complete without an accompanying shoe, and the LV lineup for the next season offers options for everyday occasions. On the casual end of the spectrum, sneakers in a new buttersoft fabric reflect William’s flirtation with street style in his early days. Another casual sneaker option is the LV Tiltedskate, which is inspired by 90s skate culture and exudes effortless coolness. For a more classy look, the LV Bubble Derby shoe features a lug sole platform loafer design, or check out the LV jazz-laceups, which combine a heel with a dress shoe for a refined look that is both unisex and adaptable to a variety of outfits. For something without a lift, the Derby Loafers offer a quintessential dress shoe without any drama.
The atmosphere of the show was electric, both in terms of design and sound. Bold original soundtracks, produced by Williams and performed by Voices of Fire and l’Orchestre du Pont Neuf, immersed the audience in culture, creative energy, and a worldly connection. A cultural experience not only through fashion, but also sound, “Yaara Punjabi,” debuted during the show; it was a moving piece co-produced by legendary Indian composer A. R. Rahman. The soundtrack concluded with the premiere of “Get Right,” a collaboration featuring Doechii and Tyler, the Creator. This global playlist of artists demonstrates Pharrell’s impact as a narrator, authoring Louis Vuitton’s focus on the worldwide community.
To close out the show, Williams appears in his true fashion: subtly styled in athleisure, yet still looking as stylish as ever. The worldwide community and travel converge in this collection, inspiring the modern world to seek life beyond the ordinary. By focusing on the intricacies of fashion, including embroidery, hand-painted motifs, gemstone placement, and the overall craftsmanship of this collection, it prompts avant-garde thinking and cultural embrace.
