Louis Vuitton shows India-flavoured fashions at Pompidou Centre

Paris: Louis Vuitton men's creative director, Pharrell Williams, wove fashion elements from India into his spring-summer 2026 collection, shown outdoors on Tuesday in front of the Pompidou Centre in Paris.

Guests were seated when screaming crowds outside the venue announced the arrival of singer Beyonce and rapper Jay-Z, who sat in the front row next to LVMH Chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault.

A live orchestra kicked off the show with loud drumming and models filed onto the sprawling, wooden set, parading loose, pleated trousers, striped coats and embellished workwear.

Bags and jeans were decorated with elephants and palm trees, while suits were worn with chunky, leather flip-flops. One model wheeled a purple acrylic trunk down the runway, moving steadily as the Voices of Fire choir sang and danced.

After the show, Williams, a well-known singer and songwriter, hugged Jay-Z before skipping across the runway set -- painted like a snakes and ladders gameboard -- to greet his family.

The show took place on the first day of Paris Fashion Week, which runs to June 29. Jonathan Anderson, who attended the Vuitton show alongside Dior CEO Delphine Arnault, Bernard Arnault's daughter, will present his debut collection for Dior Homme on Friday.

A number of high-end labels have brought on new designers as the industry seeks to woo back shoppers who are tightening their purse strings in an environment of economic uncertainty.