Pharrell: The Bionic Man

Over the past few years, Pharrell Williams has made quite a name for himself outside the music world. The producer also co-owns the Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream fashion brands, and has designed both sunglasses and fine jewelry for Louis Vuitton. In early December he extended his reach into the apparel biz by buying a stake in Bionic Yarn, a two-year-old textile firm that develops environmentally sustainable fabrics and yarns from recycled plastic bottles, for an undisclosed sum. His aim is to become the go-to source for green designers. “We want to do everything from high-end luggage to high-end denim to university caps and gowns to parks department uniforms,” Williams told WWD.