Christian Louboutin is no stranger to boundary-pushing style and design decisions, from his iconic red-bottomed heels to his edgy, spiked motif that have left an indelible mark on luxury footwear.
Now, the Parisian designer is once again breaking new ground by appointing Jaden Smith as the brand’s first-ever Creative Director for its Men’s division.
The 27-year-old actor, rapper, and multi-disciplinary artist will oversee shoes, leather goods, and accessories, while also instilling his creative eye on the brand’s campaigns, events and immersive experiences.
Smith is set to present four collections a year, with his debut collection slated for Paris Men’s Fashion Week in January.
Widely considered a trend-setter in fashion, Smith is poised to reinvigorate the brand with a youthful lens and spark renewed interest amongst the Gen-Z sartorial set.
His appointment is not only a nod to his cultural influence but also his professional expertise as the co-founder of MSFTSrep – a streetwear label he launched in 2012 with his sister, Willow Smith.
In an interview with WWD, Louboutin expressed how he knew he wanted to work with Smith when he encountered his inquisitive mind and wide-ranging interests.
“He’s someone who’s very curious, who’s very panoramic, who does a lot of things, who’s interested and who connects all the things he does,” Louboutin said. “He has a way of seeing things, of digesting things, of transforming that really connects with my way of functioning.”
The designer also revealed he would let Smith take full creative control of design, image-making, and social media, noting that his generation brings “a mentality that is different.”
To fully embrace the role, Smith is set to relocate to Paris, marking a new chapter in both his career and Louboutin’s legacy.
