At the heart of Paris, outside the striking Pompidou Centre, something unusual unfolded at the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2026 menswear show. The runway became a celebration of Indian art, music, and design.
Pharrell Williams, the brand’s Men’s Creative Director since 2023, put together a show that blended Indian tradition with global luxury. And at the center of this cultural mash-up was none other than AR Rahman, whose new upbeat Punjabi track ‘Yaara’ set the rhythm for the models strutting down the runway.
“It was fun working with Pharrell on the track ‘Yaara’,” Rahman said on Instagram, sharing a clip of the front row attendees, including J Hope and Beyoncé, vibing to the music.
Netizens were overjoyed to see the BTS star nodding along, with one saying, “HOBI AND ARR IN THE SAME FRAME😭😭”. Another added, “Ok fine… now we need hobi dancing on urvasi and mukkabala.”
Other India-inspired elements at the show
The set, imagined by renowned architect Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai, was literally a life-sized version of the Indian game Snakes and Ladders. Bright coloured pipes formed a bold, minimalist backdrop that brought together nostalgia and modern design.
Models wore pleated trousers, striped coats, leather slippers, and even carried embroidered trunks (yes, like those sanduks you find in Indian homes). It was Indian heritage, reimagined with a Louis Vuitton twist.
To get the details just right, Pharrell and his team had travelled across New Delhi, Mumbai and Jodhpur earlier, soaking in local fashion traditions and craftwork.
The event pulled in big names too. Ishaan Khatter was spotted at the show, joining an international guest list that included Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Bradley Cooper, and Jackson Wang.
