J-Hope, rapper and member of BTS, unveils his new LV Buttersoft sneakers, designed in collaboration with Pharrell Williams.
For this design, J-Hope set out to express his own personality through the shoes. After exchanging several emails with Pharrell—reviewing the fashion house’s history and exploring different directions—he ultimately chose the Buttersoft model, first introduced on the Fall/Winter 2025–2026 menswear runway. The result is a soft sneaker with a silhouette that feels almost inflated, as if filled with helium.
J-Hope selected a pastel pink for the upper and paired it with a white sole, aiming for something delicate that fits the overall aesthetic. Together with Pharrell, he decided to incorporate calf suede—something the brand had never used before—and added slightly thicker laces to give the collaboration a distinctive and personal touch.
The details also include a patch inspired by the Speedy bag from Louis Vuitton on the upper, along with leather inserts on the tongue and heel, where the words “Louis Vuitton Paris” appear embossed.
One final detail adds even more personality: the phrase “Your, my hope” engraved on the laces, a direct nod to the artist himself.
It’s worth noting that the Louis Vuitton Buttersoft reinterprets a classic silhouette from the 2000s. Choosing this model to present something new and forward-looking makes perfect sense. Since Pharrell took on the role of men’s creative director, he has pushed for a fresh direction that blends fashion and pop culture. Isn’t that, in itself, a vision of the future—and a defining moment for Louis Vuitton menswear? We believe so. Reimagining classics through this lens feels not only relevant, but necessary.
