Pharrell Lanscilo Williams, a renowned record producer, songwriter, rapper, and singer, has established himself as an exceptional figure in the music industry. His remarkable influence and success as a music entrepreneur in the 21st century have significantly impacted contemporary popular music.
Beyond the music circle, Pharrell Williams has transformed into a prominent brand sought by many multinational brands for strategic business collaboration. From partnering with Japanese fashion icon Nigo to create deluxe streetwear collections, co-designing a series of eyewear and jewelry for Louis Vuitton, serving as creative director of KarmaloopTV alongside founder and CEO Greg Selkoe, creating a line of sunglasses for fashion brand Moncler, designing a sneaker in collaboration with Chanel and Adidas, and partnering with Verizon to launch a nationwide tech-fused music curriculum, Pharrell Williams is consistently breaking boundaries and establishing standards in the music and business realm in America and beyond.
Over time, Pharrell Williams has intuitively transitioned from endorsing and promoting other brands to independently and partially establishing or investing in several multi-million dollar enterprises explored below.
Black Ambition
Pharrell Williams established Black Ambition, a non-profit venture initiative that bridges the opportunity and wealth divide by promoting entrepreneurship. Black Ambition invests financial resources and support in promising startups founded by Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs, recognizing that these individuals have been historically excluded from traditional investment channels and are the driving force behind future innovative companies.
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Since being founded in 2020, Black Ambition has organized a range of contests aimed at offering guidance, support, and networking opportunities, as well as up to $3 million in financial backing, to entrepreneurs who are revolutionizing the fields of consumer goods and services, media and entertainment, healthcare, technology, and Web 3.0.
“With Black Ambition, the goal is to help strengthen the pipeline of talented entrepreneurs and close the opportunity and wealth gaps derived from limited access to capital and resources.” – Pharrell Williams.
I Am Other
I Am Other, established by Pharrell Williams, is a multimedia creative collective and record label covering all his ventures. Since its launch on May 12, 2012, the content featured on the I Am Other channel revolves around music, culture, fashion, and the arts. This cultural platform is dedicated to intellectuals, innovators, and individuals who defy societal norms. It debuted with original series such as Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae, StereoTypes, and Nardwuar. In 2021, I Am Other collaborated with various partners, including Adidas, Chanel, and the Visa Foundation, to provide financial support and mentorship to emerging Black and Latino startups.
1Password
Pharrell Williams and a cohort of renowned celebrities including Trevor Noah, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Reynolds, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Matthew McConaughey, and Chris Evans, invested in the Canadian tech company 1Password. This investment was made through a substantial $620 million Series C round funding, which resulted in the company’s valuation reaching an impressive $6.8 billion. ICONIQ Growth spearheaded the Series C round, with notable participation from Tiger Global, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Backbone Angels, Salesforce Ventures, and other esteemed investors.
Billionaire Boys Club
Pharrell Williams and Nigo established Billionaire Boys Club in 2003, a well-known brand for clothing, accessories, and lifestyle. The brand offers a fusion of high-end streetwear and opulent attire that has a significant impact on various aspects of fashion, music, design, and culture. The brand’s core values, deeply ingrained in its DNA, are driven by Pharrell’s motivational quote, “Wealth is of the heart and mind, not the pocket.”
Human Made
Founded in 2010 by stylist and music producer Nigo, in collaboration with Pharrell Williams, Human Made is a renowned Japanese style brand that has gained global recognition for its exceptional range of products, particularly for its fuse of vintage and urban influences. Notably, Human Made has recently introduced a collection of accessories and household items, including plates and mugs, which are not only suitable for indoor use but also perfect for outdoor activities like camping and other adventures.
Human Made x Adidas
Adidas Originals collaborated with Human Made, a fashion brand co-founded by Pharrell Williams and Nigo, to release a limited edition collection of sneakers. The collection includes the Tennis Hu, Solar Hu, and Hu NMD silhouettes, all launched in 2019.
The Tennis Hu model boasts a casual, low-top design with a white Primeknit upper, leather heel panel, and red laces, finished with a diamond-tooled sole and an embroidered Human Made Heart logo on the toebox. The Solar Hu model features a technical aesthetic crafted from breathable mesh and textured Primeknit. It is supported by a Boost midsole and rubber outsole, with TPU heel stabilizers and EVA rubber in the forefoot. The shoe is completed with a unique lace eyelet panel and an embroidered Human Made Heart logo on the toebox. The Hu NMD model retains its classic form with full Primeknit construction, soft TPU heel cage, and lace system, NMD Boost™ midsole with EVA inserts, rugged black outsole, red laces, and an embroidered Human Made Heart logo on the toebox; all in a pure white colorway.
Humanrace
Pharrell’s love for good skin led him to venture into the beauty industry with his skincare brand, Humanrace. The brand stands out for its sustainable practices, emphasizing reusable and refillable packaging. The packaging has a clinical look inspired by Pharrell’s admiration for Japanese culture and features a neutral primary green color. The containers are so aesthetically pleasing that you might want to keep them as jewelry boxes even after using the product.
ICECREAM
Founded in 2004 by Pharrell Williams and renowned designer Nigo, ICECREAM is a subsidiary of Billionaire Boys Club. The brand is recognized for its bold graphics, vibrant colors, and all-over prints, often featuring ice cream graphics and other playful designs such as diamonds and money signs. The collection emphasizes men’s streetwear vibes and showcases graphic t-shirts and hoodies. ICECREAM has played a significant role in hip-hop and pop culture since its inception and remains a staple streetwear brand.
Bee Line
Bee Line, the bridge label of Billionaire Boys Club, partnered with Timberland to produce a classic all-blue Timberland workboot called “The Blue Boot,” featuring blue laces and a wheat-colored coil. After the success of the debut Blue Boot, Pharrell Williams introduced black Timberland boots in 2011 and a red variation in 2014.
Billionaire Girls Club
The sister brand of Pharrell Williams’ Billionaire Boys Club is Billionaire Girls Club, which specializes in crafting a fusion of high-end streetwear and opulent ensembles exclusively designed for women.
GIRL
In 2014, the renowned Japanese luxury brand Comme des Garçons collaborated with Pharrell Williams to introduce his inaugural fragrance – a gender-neutral woody scent named G I R L. The initial accords of the fragrance encompass neroli, lavender, and white pepper, followed by iris, styrax, and violet. The fragrance concludes with a harmonious blend of patchouli, vetiver, sandalwood, and cedar as its base notes. The composition of this perfume is credited to Christian Astuguevieille, the creative director of Comme Des Garcons, and perfumer Antoine Lie of Tasakago. The production and distribution of GIRL are overseen by Comme des Garçons.
CASETiFY
CASETiFY, the rapidly expanding worldwide tech accessories brand, has partnered with Pharrell Williams, a prominent figure, to reach an impressive 1 in 7 millennials. Offering a range of exquisitely crafted premium tech accessories, CASETiFY caters to the Samsung Galaxy series, Google Pixel, and Apple iPhones, as well as AirPods, iPad, MacBook, Apple Watch, and other Apple accessories.
Pharrell x Medicom
Pharrell Williams, the renowned rapper-producer who has become a fashion icon, collaborated with Medicom to produce a toy replica of himself as an action hero. Introduced in 2016, the Pharrell Real Action Heroes figure by Medicom Toy stands at a height of 11.8 inches. This collectible item showcases Pharrell’s iconic 2014 Grammy outfit, complete with bracelets, a watch, a carabiner, and his signature Vivienne Westwood hat. Additionally, the miniature Pharrell figure includes a display stand and interchangeable wrists. Interested buyers can find the RAH Pharrell Williams figure on Billionaire Boys Club’s online store.
Be@rbrick
Following the success of the RAH Pharrell toy, Pharrell Williams collaborated once more with Medicom Toy in 2017 to introduce Be@rbrick, incorporating Williams’ “I am OTHER” philosophy as the central concept of the creation. The Medicom Toy x Pharrell Williams “I am OTHER” 400% Be@rbrick is available in various hues.
Pharrell x Neighborhood Incense Chamber
A collaboration between Neighborhood and Pharrell Williams resulted in the creation of a unique PW Incense Chamber. The incense chamber, crafted from high-quality ceramic material, is modeled after Pharrell’s iconic Vulcan hand sign, which he adopted as his signature greeting in the early to mid-2000s after being inspired by the Star Trek franchise. It is a functional incense holder that is usable in your home or workplace.
G Star Raw
Pharrell Williams joined G Star Raw as a co-owner. This partnership comes after two years of collaboration between G-Star and Pharrell Williams’ company Bionic Yarn on RAW for the Oceans, a project that transforms recycled ocean plastic into denim. With a shared commitment to creativity and innovation, it was only natural for Pharrell Williams to partner again with G-Star, as both brands are recognized for their pursuit of groundbreaking ideas.
Trend
Pharrell Williams’s Black Ambition was among the investors that raised $3 million in Trend’s 2022 pre-seed funding round led by venture capital firm Flybridge. Trend, a company based in Miami Beach, aims to facilitate the growth of the creator economy by establishing connections between brands, such as Amazon, and creators of video and photo content.
Bionic Yarn
Pharrell Williams is an owner, investor, ambassador, spokesman, and creative director for Bionic Yarns, an innovative material engineering company that spins plastic waste into high-grade textiles and polymers.
Doodles
In June of 2022, the appointment of Pharrell Williams as the Chief Brand Officer of Doodles was made public. As part of this collaboration, Pharrell will launch a Doodles album that can be streamed and purchased exclusively as NFTs.
Louis Vuitton
On February 14, 2023, Louis Vuitton announced the appointment of Pharrell Williams as their new men’s creative director, succeeding Virgil Abloh, who passed away in 2021. Pharrell presented his inaugural collection at the Paris Men’s Fashion Week in June 2023.
“I am glad to welcome Pharrell back home, after our collaborations in 2004 and 2008 for Louis Vuitton, as our new Men’s Creative Director. His creative vision beyond fashion will undoubtedly lead Louis Vuitton towards a new and very exciting chapter,” said Pietro Beccari, Louis Vuitton’s Chairman and CEO.
Atlantic Park
Pharrell Williams, in collaboration with Venture Realty Group, is currently developing Atlantic Park, a surf park project worth $330 million. This ambitious endeavor aims to transform surf culture in Virginia Beach, Pharrell’s hometown, situated on the southeast coast of the United States.
Situated in the Oceanfront area of Virginia Beach, Atlantic Park will boast a remarkable three-acre lagoon as its main attraction. This lagoon will utilize cutting-edge wave-making technology, similar to that employed at Wavegarden, a renowned surf park in northern Spain. By harnessing this technology, Atlantic Park will provide optimal surfing conditions throughout the year. Moreover, the park will encompass amenities such as apartments, office spaces, restaurants, and an exclusive shopping experience curated by Louis Vuitton. Additionally, the surf park will incorporate educational initiatives and cultural attractions.