Pharrell Williams

Fashion Influence

Although it's not uncommon for producers and music artists to collide within the worlds of fashion and music, very few have been able to make as large of a dent and impact as Pharrell Williams. Famously known for his countless Grammy awards as a hip-hop/pop/R&B musician and producer, Virginia-born Williams has created a tangible effect on clothes themselves and how we wear them. The artist truly can do it all, with his impact bleeding over into every corner of pop culture. Although he began making music in the 90s with Chad Hugo in The Neptunes and then later created the hip-hop and rock band N.E.R.D., his career steadfastly took off in the early 2000s when he produced major hits such as ‘Hot in Herre,’ ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot,’ ‘U Don’t Have To Call,’ ‘Frontin,’ and ‘Rock Your Body.’ While other rappers and producers wore baggy jeans and tees, Pharrell’s outfit contrasts with others. He liked bold fabrics, prints, and aesthetics that would soon pave the way for something more significant and impactful in the streetwear world.

During the early 2000s, during Pharrell Williams' immense growth, Pharrell found himself in Tokyo, Japan, needing a studio for his artistic pursuits. A Bathing Ape founder and fashion designer NIGO offered his space through a mutual connection. Pharrell Williams' was instantly inspired by NIGO's style along with his massive showroom of signature apparel and sneakers. But on that same trip where Pharrell and NIGO first met, the two got together with the current Chief of Staff for A Bathing Ape, Toby Feltwell. The trio shared a meal and exchanged their creative ideas, and at that moment, they would change the future of streetwear and fashion as the world knew it. Williams had already come up with the idea to create the fashion label Billionaire Boys Club, but not its logo. Over dinner, Pharrell presented his ideas and visions to NIGO and Toby Feltwell regarding his idea for Billionaire Boys Club and its sister label, ICECREAM. Williams asked NIGO to be an advisor and help design the two brands and be a creative advisor for the two labels. By the time dinner was over, the lead graphic designer at A Bathing Ape, Sk8thing, had already devised the now-iconic astronaut motif logo. 

Pharrell Williams' impact within the fashion world was implemented through the lens of not only Billionaire Boys Club and ICECREAM but also through A Bathing Ape and his relationship with NIGO. Although Pharrell was making waves in the music industry in the early 2000s by producing many of hip-hop's most memorable sounds, conquering the music charts wasn't enough to satisfy his hunger for optimal creativity. Shortly after returning from his impactful trip to Japan, Pharrell began to wear more BAPE, along with starting to tease some graphics from his yet to be announced initial Billionaire Boys Club collection. Williams' helped bring forth BAPE's bright colors and graphics to the forefront and quickly became the face of the brand in the U.S. Pharrell's influence began to push BAPE into a new point of view by sporting camo beanies and trucker hats.

"Wealth is of the heart and mind, not of the pocket."

Pharrell had an infinity for apparel such as skateboard shirts and distinct headwear, contributing to his natural penchant for design. Pharrell brought trucker hats and shearling jackets into an industry where baggy jeans and graphic tees were the staples. Pharrell Williams set an early foundation for an era where hip-hop artists played a heavy role in red carpet fashion through his style and presentation. By always staying true to his creative vision, the artistic trendsetter has consistently pulled off some of the most eye-grabbing outfits in music, intertwining with whoever he was collaborating with as well. In 2003, the music video for Pharrell’s hit song Frontin' with fellow rapper Jay-Z was introduced to the world. At this moment, Billionaire Boys Club, otherwise known as BBC, was presented. Printed on a black shirt seen throughout the length of the video was a bold, white outline of the iconic Spaceman motif. Thousands of orders came in as soon as the brand was made live.

Producing high-quality streetwear apparel was always a part of his long-term plan, and with Billionaire Boys Club, that commitment saw itself through. With Billionaire Boys Club, Pharrell wanted to produce clothes he wanted to wear and see in the marketplace. With streetwear taking on a life of its own worldwide in Tokyo, Japan, Pharrell was the first to pave the way for streetwear aesthetics within the states. Officially launched in 2005, Billionaire Boys Club immediately developed a unique aesthetic. With NIGO's keen eye for creation combined with Pharrell's particular celebrity red carpet style icon status and graphic designer Sk8thing's skillset, Billionaire Boys Club was destined to make a sizeable dent within the fashion industry. Known for producing heavy graphic-driven collections spotlighting t-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, and a vast array of denim, the label has grown over the years by expanding from solely menswear into womenswear and childrenswear lines. 

Although Billionaire Boys Club had never intended to be distinguished as a skateboard brand, the label immediately garnered more towards the fashion-forward youth in the U.S. and Japan. And even though Pharrell Williams had shown an affinity for skateboard culture over the years, Billionaire Boys Club's sublabel ICECREAM is where skateboarding comes into play. Fans of ICECREAM are described as "skate kids that pay attention to fashion." Launched around the same time as Billionaire Boys Club, ICECREAM's links to skateboarding solidified in 2004 when its name was dropped in Snoop Dogg's 'Drop it Like its Hot' produced by Pharrell Williams. In the song, Pharrell referred to himself as Skateboard P, a nickname he had earned in high school, inspired by his skate style. In the music video for 'Drop it Like its Hot,' Pharrell's blurred-out sneakers made a statement. 

Now that we know Pharrell was sporting a pair of Reebok x ICECREAM 'Beeper Flavor's, it was one of the many moments that paved the way for Pharrell Williams' influence within the sneaker industry. As the sub-label of Billionaire Boys Club, ICECREAM's signature motif was a classic ice cream graphic spread throughout each offering. By the time 2008 rolled around, Pharrell Williams had gone through a stylistic revolution by bringing forth the 'rap hipster' aesthetic consisting of full-zip hoodies, plaid shirts, knit cardigans, necklaces, patent leather sneakers, and skinny jeans. During this period, his style continued to evolve rapidly, which ended up with a combination of plaid or all-over printed shirts, bold headwear, chino shorts, blazers, and different accessories such as bow-ties. Also, around this time, his collabs began increasing, such as with NIGO's label Human Made, designer Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Adidas Originals, Moncler, and many more.

This vast selection of collabs shows Pharrell Williams' influence and depth as an artist and designer. It was less about him putting his name on a piece of clothing or sneakers when it came to designing but more about fulfilling a creative dream, such as when Nike gave Pharrell that opportunity to collaborate on a pair of Dunks back in 2004. With the first sneaker he ever purchased being from Adidas, it was fitting for him to build a long-lasting footwear collaboration between Adidas and BBC/ICECREAM, which officially began in 2014. Pharrell's influence within Adidas was nothing short of monumental success. He produced silhouettes such as The Human Race NMDs and unique colorways of the iconic Adidas Superstar and patterned Stan Smiths into the brand's repertoire.

Additionally, Pharrell Williams' latest Premium Basics Collection with Adidas is another product of his versatility.  Pharrell Williams continues to move forward in his massive fashion influence. Whether through Billionaire Boys Club, ICECREAM, sneaker collaborations, or his line of apparel, the artist keeps a foot in between the worlds of fashion and music. Pharrell was presented the Fashion Icon Award in 2015 by Kanye West at the CFDA Awards. Moments like this in Pharrell's creative journey, along with his genuine skillset and influence, establishes a difficult to obtain template for future artists alike. To shop the latest Pharrell Williams apparel and sneakers, click here. Click here to shop ICECREAM and here for Billionaire Boys Club.