Louis Vuitton introduces a new version of the LV Buttersoft Sneaker through an exclusive collaboration between Menswear Creative Director Pharrell Williams and House Ambassador j-hope. The artist, dancer, rapper, music producer, and BTS member brings a personal narrative to the shoe, which began as a custom design created for his tour. The result turns a 2000s-inspired sneaker shape into a release built around movement, comfort, and details connected to his identity as a performer.
SNEAKERS
The LV Buttersoft Sneaker carries the look of a classic track runner, updated through Louis Vuitton materials and construction. Its layered rubber outsole gives the shoe a springy base, while the ultra-soft calf suede upper introduces a plush finish. The bright rose and white colorway reflects j-hope’s warm personality, giving the sneaker a clear visual link to the artist without overloading the design.
Pharrell Williams and j-hope approach the sneaker through personal references and precise detailing. The original version served as a custom companion for j-hope during his tour, with comfort playing a central role in the design. Louis Vuitton adds hand-stitched and hand-painted elements across the shoe, bringing a near-tailored quality to the 2000s-inspired silhouette.
The lacing system carries one of the sneaker’s most direct messages. Wide woven laces come with a decorative Monogram cloche-clé, while the lace tips feature the words “Your, My Hope.” The phrase references j-hope’s stage name and his hopeful attitude, turning a small construction detail into a personal signature.
Louis Vuitton also adapts a textile label from the Speedy P9 bag for the sneaker. The label appears on the underside of the tongue, bringing a detail from the House’s leather goods language into footwear. On the outside of the tongue, a leather patch carries the capsule’s dedicated logomark, combining the Louis Vuitton Paris stamp with j-hope’s signature.
Further references appear through the leather enchapes on the heel and toe, which echo Louis Vuitton luggage and bag details. Beneath the heel enchape, the design includes a hidden set of charms shaped as a squirrel and an acorn. These emblems speak directly to devoted fans, adding a private layer to a sneaker designed for global release.
j-hope joined Louis Vuitton as a House Ambassador in 2023, and this collaboration builds on his relationship with the House. First unveiled in December 2025, the exclusive j-hope LV Buttersoft Sneaker will receive a prelaunch in South Korea on March 25 before its worldwide launch on April 30, 2026.
ahahaha who remembers this dude even exists??