Louis Vuitton, one of the world’s biggest fashion houses, has a new face: j-hope, a member of the incalculably popular Korean pop group BTS.
The 29-year-old singer, real name Jung Hoseok, who was also the first member of the group to break out as a successful solo artist with his 2019 hit “Chicken Noodle Soup”, will serve as the House Ambassador for the brand.
j-hope rose to prominence as a dancer first, as part of the underground dance team Neuron, winning local prizes, including first place in a national dance competition in 2008. From there, he moved on to singing.
The move was made in part because of his success as a solo artist, with the brand citing that success as part of their reasoning for choosing the singer.
Here’s the official j-hope announcement from Louis Vuitton:
“Louis Vuitton is pleased to announce South Korean rapper-singer-songwriter and music producer, j-hope, as its newest House Ambassador
“j-hope rose to international stardom as a member of 21st century pop icons BTS. The best-selling South Korean artists of all time – and undoubtedly one of the most renowned music groups in the world – BTS have broken numerous Billboard records and have been listed in Times Magazine’s 100 most influential people of the year
“His momentum as a solo artist has also continued to build. He is beloved by fans across the world for his upbeat energy, precise choreography, and creative musical direction
“With a positive on-and-off-stage presence, j-hope continues to push artistic boundaries and inspire international audiences.”