Written By Rae Ng

Louis Vuitton’s fashion show graces Hong Kong on the Avenue of Stars on 30th November, bringing high fashion onto Hong Kong’s own Hollywood walk.

Accompanied by the city’s signature skyline, Louis Vuitton Men’s Pre-Fall 2023 Menswear collection themed on travel creates a memorable show, featuring models on a unique outdoor runway, covered in sand. 

The collection features a unique take on vacation beach wear. It incorporates high fashion accessories including bucket hats and the Louis Vuitton Keepall 25 bag, hand-embroidered with seashells as well as luxurious fabrics, showing Pharrell Williams’ chic take on holiday clothing, expressing the designer’s playful attitude through his designs. Using bright and vibrant colours in many of the pieces while using warmer fabrics and silhouettes, Williams melds the feeling of both the end of the summer and the start of fall, consistently creating a youthful look despite the colder turn of weather. 

Williams states to CNN that he wishes the theme of travel to encompass everywhere from “Hawaii to Hong Kong”, paying homage to Hawaii’s surf communities, incorporating elements such as sailing jackets and striped suits as well as tropical floral points. The collection also notes to pay a nod to Hong Kong’s history by the sea. Utilising Pharrell Williams’ music and musicians playing ukuleles– with sailor hats!– to tie together the beach theme.

The collection surely was popular, attracting the attention of many celebrities, such as the attendance of Chinese band TNT, South Korean actor Song Joong Ki, K-pop group Stray Kid’s Felix, and Hong Kong celebrity Anson Lo. 

Accompanying the show, drones took the sky, spelling out the brand’s signature logo, completing this dazzling performance. Presented in the sky but also at sea, Hong Kong’s traditional junk boats further project the iconic Louis Vuitton logo from far away, creating an all-surrounding experience for the high fashion brand. 

The Men’s Pre-Fall 2024 Show is seen by many Hong Kongers as the return of the city’s bustling atmosphere of fashion, glamour and business. With the end of the COVID-19 pandemic comes the “Renaissance of the city”, as called by the South China Morning Post. The Louis Vuitton show promotes Hong Kong’s standing as a metropolis open to new possibilities. 

Master, Farah, and Joyce Zhou. “Pharrell Williams Takes Louis Vuitton to Hong Kong Harbour Runway.” Reuters, Dec. 2023, http://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/pharrell-williams-takes-louis-vuitton-hong-kong-harbour-runway-2023-11-30/. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

““Renaissance of the City”? Hong Kong Hosts Star-Studded Louis Vuitton Show.” South China Morning Post, 30 Nov. 2023, http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3243283/bright-lights-big-city-hong-kong-prepares-host-glitzy-louis-vuitton-runway-show-it-bids-again-take. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

Holland, Stephy Chung, Oscar. “Louis Vuitton Stages Dramatic Runway Show in Hong Kong.” CNN, 30 Nov. 2023, edition.cnn.com/style/louis-vuitton-hong-kong-fashion-show/index.html. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

“Tunji & Mekhi for Louis Vuitton Pre-Fall 2023 in Hong Kong – Soul Artist Management – New York Model & Talent Management Agency.” http://Www.soulartistmanagement.com, http://www.soulartistmanagement.com/blog/1323-tunji-mekhi-for-louis-vuitton-pre-fall-2023-in-hong-kong/. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.