Pivoting from a wildly successful music career, Williams was appointed men’s creative director at Louis Vuitton in February 2023, filling the big shoes of the late, great Virgil Abloh. He has established himself as a tour de force in the fashion world, presenting several major LV collections and additional capsules that reflect his effortlessly cool streetwear-inspired style. You only need to look at the ​​ivy-inspired capsule he dropped last fall or the line of dandy-esque attire he designed with Tyler, the Creator, to see the fresh spin he is putting on traditional menswear. His latest collection once again married old and new, with classic silhouettes and patterns rendered in new technical fabrics that reflect the light.

If all that wasn’t enough, Williams has launched the auction site Joopiter and the skincare brand Humanrace. He has also collaborated with other LVMH-owned houses, designing jewelry for Tiffany & Co. and Champagne bottles for Moët & Chandon, for example. It makes sense, then, that LVMH chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault was also at his knighting ceremony.  

Williams is, of course, no stranger to an accolade. He received the Fashion Icon Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America back in 2015, underscoring his decade-long presence in the industry. He has also notched no less than 13 Grammys for his work as a producer, songwriter, and artist. The latest honor, however, cements his status not only as a designer but also as a global cultural force. Williams now ranks alongside fashion greats Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Lacroix, who were decorated knights of the Legion of Honour in 2001 and 2002, respectively.