Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2026 menswear showcase at Paris Fashion Week, led by creative director Pharrell Williams, was a vivid homage to India. Set at the Centre Pompidou, the runway was transformed into a life‑sized Snakes and Ladders board—conceptualised by esteemed Indian architect Bijoy Jain—symbolising life’s twists and turns. The designs embraced Indian heritage through a color palette inspired by turmeric, cinnamon, and “coffee indigo” denim, showcasing richly embroidered jackets, lavish bags with animal motifs, and even chappals and cricket-jersey-inspired elements.

Pharrell’s creative journey to New Delhi, Mumbai, and Jodhpur informed the collection’s textures and silhouettes, marrying global luxury with local tradition. The show featured a live sitar-gospel fusion performance including A. R. Rahman, and star-studded attendance from Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Spike Lee, and K-pop idols. Williams emphasized storytelling and cultural reverence, contrasting Louis Vuitton’s inclusive approach with Prada’s omission of context during Milan’s Spring/Summer 2026 showcase.

This event reflects a broader shift in high fashion toward purposeful cultural integration: celebrating Indian craft through credible narratives, prominent design contributions (like Jain’s scenography), and acknowledgement of artisan legacies.