The actor and musician will oversee four men’s collections annually across footwear, leather goods, and accessories
Christian Louboutin has appointed Jaden Smith as the house’s first men’s creative director, marking a significant step for the brand 15 years after it entered the men’s category.
The actor, musician, and designer will relocate to Paris, where he will oversee four annual collections across footwear, leather goods, and accessories, in addition to developing campaigns, events, and immersive projects. His first presentation is scheduled for January 2026 during men’s fashion week in Paris.
Smith described the role as “one of the biggest honors of my life,” adding, “I feel a lot of pressure to live up to everything Christian has done for the house. I can’t wait to show the world what we’ve been working on.”
Louboutin, who met Smith in 2019, said the appointment grew organically. “He arrived before the idea of a creative director. Dressing for him is an adventure. It’s a form of communication — thoughtful but playful. There are very few people I find as surprising in the way they put things together.”
Smith, cofounder of the streetwear brand MSFTSrep and frequent collaborator with New Balance, brings a broad creative background spanning music, film, and activism. He said his fascination with footwear began in childhood, recalling how his parents, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, and later his sister Willow, all wore Louboutins.
For Louboutin, the move frees him to focus on the women’s business, which currently represents 76 percent of sales and has been driving growth. Men’s products account for about a quarter of revenue but have recently seen declines. “Because of his generation, Jaden will show the brand’s vision in a much more visible way,” Louboutin said.
Christian Louboutin’s chief executive Alexis Mourot noted that men’s footwear has strong growth potential, with sneakers already representing half of the category. “I think we can double the business in the next couple of years,” he said.
An “avant-premiere capsule” by Smith will debut in January 2026 at select boutiques and online, ahead of his first full collection for fall 2026.
