Pharrell Williams and Sarah Andelman collaborate on "Just Phriends" project

By

Triana Alonso

Translated by
Roberta HERRERA

Published
Jun 20, 2023

Indisputably, Pharrell Williams will be the standout figure at Paris Men's Fashion Week, scheduled to take place in the French capital from June 20 to 25. With a highly anticipated show that has generated significant media buzz, the multi-talented musician and renowned designer will make his debut as the creative director of Louis Vuitton's menswear collections on Tuesday night. This long-awaited debut will be accompanied by a series of other noteworthy initiatives in which Pharrell will be equally captivating throughout the fashion week, from his collaboration with Adidas Originals' Samba Café to "Just Phriends," a unique project that seamlessly combines rare pearl auctions with experiential retail.

In the case of "Just Phriends", organized under Pharrell Williams' auction house, Joopiter, the creative genius has joined forces with an old friend, Sarah Andelman, the visionary behind the iconic Parisian concept store, Colette.

"Just Phriends is a celebration of Pharrell's friends. It has been a great honor to bring together so many artists, designers, and talents. As a curator, it has also been wonderful to contribute a part of my history: Colette," explained Andelman, showcasing some pieces that were part of the legacy of the iconic store, such as a sculpture designed by Virgil Abloh or a pair of Air Jordans created for the Colette team.

Embracing this interdisciplinary collaborative concept, Pharrell Williams invites his extensive circle of friends to 8 Avenue Matignon in Paris from June 20 to June 24. Spanning across four floors, "Just Phriends" presents a total of 61 unique lots, including paintings and sculptures by renowned artists such as André Saraiva, Daniel Arsham, Dustin Yellin, Esther Mahlangu, Ft, Hajime Sorayama, Haroshi, Javier Calleja, Invader, JR, Keiichi Nita, Keiichi Tanaami, Paola Pivi, Pieter Ceizer, Sam Clayman, and Steven Harrington.

The selection also includes design pieces signed by Campana Brothers or Devon Turnbull, as well as fashion creations and objects from collaborations such as Chanel x Adidas x Pharrell Williams, Colette, Human Made x Steven Victor, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Louis Vuitton x Virgil Abloh, and Mira Mikati x Hublot. Notable items on display include a helmet signed by racing driver Lewis Hamilton and designed by Takashi Murakami, a unique collection of vinyl records from Pharrell's productions, a "Moonman" trophy created by Kaws for the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, and a jewelry piece inspired by astrology and created by Pharrell Williams himself for Tiffany & Co.

On the ground floor of the exhibition space, there is a pop-up area dedicated to the sale of Colette-style details and gifts. It features an exclusive collection of T-shirts and sweatshirts, merchandise in collaboration with Takashi Murakami, Nadine Ghosn, or No More Rulers, exclusive products from Palm Angels, Bunny Shapiro, or Call It By Your Name, as well as a publication of "Pharell-Isms" edited by Larry Warsh. Each piece is numbered and limited to 300 copies, all personally signed by Pharrell Williams.

Until the closure of this ephemeral space on Sunday, June 24, Joopiter, the auction house founded by Williams, will host a series of conversations on their Instagram profile with key figures such as Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, JR, Mira Mikati, Nathan Sawaya, FriendsWithYou, Harry Nuriev, Gabriela Noelle, Levi Pitters (PitterPatter), and Pedro Winter.