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India isn’t the next big thing in luxury—it’s already here. Louis Vuitton knows it, and so does Pharrell Williams. For the brand’s Spring/Summer 2026 menswear show, the designer took cues from the country’s rich culture, vibrant spirituality, and evolving fashion dominance. The runway felt like a long-haul flight with a first-class view of modern India.
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Is brown the new indigo? The new denim—coffee bean brown, woven not dyed—is Pharrell’s homage to craftsmanship and impermanence. Over time, the fabric fades to reveal white threads beneath—like sand eroding stone, or truth under ornament.
Mumbai L(o)V(e)
India’s influence is no longer subtle. Designers like Sabyasachi Mukherjee are crafting global empires from looms and ateliers, showcasing that tradition scales beautifully. LV’s latest outing mirrors that energy. Think tailored coats with metallic foiling, jester-like stripes, and desert-sky hues, all pulled together with an ease that sidesteps costume and lands on cool.
The collection included slouchy tailoring, mountaineering pieces with glamping energy, and embroidered suits that felt ceremonial but wearable. The Darjeeling Limited got a visual shoutout, too—embroidered onto bags and stitched into prints, an Easter egg for film enthusiasts and Wes Anderson disciples alike.
Embellished Everything
Accessories went maximal. The new Speedy P9 arrived in hand-painted stripes, beaded embroidery, and rare skins. Shoes were equally extra: LV Jazz lace-ups, Tilted skate shoes, and Buttersoft sneakers all made appearances, each walking the line between fashion insider and sneakerhead.
Standouts included a hyperbright lime green jacket with its hood entirely sewn with gems, and a wave of open-toed booties and grommeted boots designed for desert parties or the next art-world after-hours.
Louis Vuitton’s S/S26 menswear show doesn’t explain India. It gestures toward its moods—sunlight and stone, glam and grit—and finds in it a fresh rhythm. The global spotlight isn’t moving toward India. It’s already there, glowing. Louis Vuitton is simply dressing for the occasion.
Photos courtesy of LOUIS VUITTON
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