Pharrell’s New Louis Vuitton Sneaker Is Already Dividing Opinion

Ahead of Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2027 menswear show in Paris, Pharrell Williams has offered a first look at the house’s latest footwear design, the Louis Vuitton Combi. The low-profile sneaker features a streamlined shape, vulcanised sole and skate-inspired construction, signalling a continued interest in casual, streetwear-informed silhouettes within the brand’s menswear offering.

However, the reveal has already sparked discussion across social media, with many drawing comparisons between the Combi and the iconic Vans Authentic. First introduced in 1966, the skate shoe has become one of the most recognisable silhouettes in footwear history, leading some observers to question just how much separates the two designs. While luxury fashion has long reinterpreted everyday staples through a premium lens, the similarities have become a talking point ahead of the collection’s official debut.

The debate arrives at a time when the boundaries between luxury and skate culture continue to blur, with major fashion houses increasingly borrowing from the visual language of heritage sportswear brands. Whether the Combi proves to be a fresh reinterpretation or simply another example of fashion’s ongoing fascination with familiar icons remains to be seen when Louis Vuitton presents its full Spring/Summer 2027 collection in Paris.

What are your thoughts? A little too familiar or simply a homage?