Christian Louboutin’s big idea surfaced in the pool. He was swimming laps one winter morning in Paris, his usual form of meditation, when Jaden Smith came to mind. The young multi-hyphenate artist and a founder of the clothing and lifestyle brand MSFTSrep had approached him in 2019 at a fashion event in Los Angeles, boldly walking up with a crew of friends to introduce himself.
They crossed paths again in Paris, where Mr. Louboutin, more reserved by nature, insisted on returning the favor with his own welcome. They continued to run into each other over the years, and though the meetings were brief, the conversations always had spark — a back-and-forth volley of ideas that never seemed to run out of energy.
In the pool that day, he wondered: What if that energy were formalized? Months later, the fashion house named Mr. Smith as its first men’s creative director, tasked with shaping four collections annually across men’s shoes, leather goods and accessories. His first capsule arrives online and in select boutiques in January, and his full debut collection will be released during the men’s fall shows in January.
We spoke with Mr. Smith and Mr. Louboutin on a recent Sunday afternoon about the appointment. Here’s what they had to say. The interview has been edited and condensed.
It’s not every day that a luxury fashion house hands over the reins to someone so young and outside the traditional fashion establishment. Pharrell at Louis Vuitton is perhaps the closest parallel, but Jaden is 27. Does it feel like a risk?
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN The real risk is to take no risk, especially in fashion. If you take no risk, you dilute the message. If there is risk, there is excitement about that risk. So, I would say that it’s a good risk, and it’s totally worth it.
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