Virgil Abloh was a man whose many talents spread over different industries. His skills have made a big impact on many people’s lives as well as the fashion world. We unfortunately had to say farewell on November 28, 2021 when he passed away in Chicago at the age of 41, due to a rare form of cancer. He has gone down in history as the man who revolutionized style and changed what was possible in the world of luxury fashion. As the CEO of Off-White and creative director of Louis Vuitton, his work is widely recognized and his creativity has changed fashion forever.
How He Started
Before making clothes, Virgil Abloh was a civil engineering student at University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2002. He was not all that into the course as he told “The Cut” he found it boring. However, in 2006 he completed his masters in architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology (ITT). This is where his interest for fashion started. He stated the Rem Koolhaas building that completed construction during his studies triggered his interest and opened a gateway into fashion.
His mother also played a big part into the development of his fashion career. Eunice Abloh was a seamstress, and taught her skills to his son, who learned and cherished her teachings. He began sewing as a young boy and helped create the path he later took to become a beloved and respected fashion designer.
His Career
Abloh started off his career in 2002 when he met Kanye West after skipping his graduation from University of Wisconsin-Madison to meet up with his then-manager, John Monopoly. In 2009 the partners interned at Fendi and later launched a boutique in Chicago named RSVP. The next year West asked him to become the creative director at Donda, his creative agency, and in 2011 he directed the album, Watch the Throne by Jay-Z and Kanye West, which earned a Grammy nomination.
In 2012, Abloh founded the infamous brand, Pyrex Vision in New York. This company consisted of him buying deadstock Ralph Lauren flannel shirts for $40, and would print the word Pyrex and the number 23 on the back, to commemorate Michael Jordan, his childhood hero. He would then resell the flannels for $550. The brand grew quickly with the help of celebrity endorsements, including Jay-Z, Kanye West, and A$AP Rocky.
He stated, “I just legally can’t use the name Pyrex anymore.” This led to a rebrand in 2013 resulting in Off-White, a globally known brand and a big inspiration to many designers and fashion enthusiasts. LVMH is now 60% owner of Off-White. He was officially named artistic director at Louis Vuitton for the menswear collection in 2018. With this position he stepped into the shoes of his mentor and dear friend, Kim Jones.
Off-White
In 2013 he launched his world famous brand based in Milan, Off-White. His designs carrying more detail than the eye can see, reflect his innovative ideas and creativity. First, let’s start with the name which has an echoing take. Off-White is defined as the gray area between black and white. His styles and designs combine the ideas of luxury, streetwear, art, music, and travel. Abloh’s signature mark, the quotation marks, were created and started for Off-White.
His studies and degrees are transferred into his designs as seen from the infamous straight lines and perfectly perpendicular crosses on Off-White products, as well as other works such as the reconstructed sneakers he created for Nike (Off-White x Air Jordan 1), and the fully transparent Rimowa suitcase he designed.
In 2014, not only does he create Off-White womenswear, but he took the brand to Paris Fashion Week runways. His worked was admired by many and has since left a big imprint in the fashion industry. In 2015 the womenswear collection blew up after it was worn and showcased by Beyonce when she wore a palm-print sweatshirt with the word Nebraska on it. The same year Off-White was named a finalist for the LVMH Prize, which it unfortunately lost to Jacquemus and Marques’Almeida.
In 2016 the first concept store was opened in Tokyo, where he placed an Off-White watercooler with branded cups, which visitors could take for free and resell online.
In Milan he first showcased his furniture collection, which was the first furniture venture under the name Off-White. The furniture line features benches, tables, and chairs.
Further Talents
As already stated, Abloh was a man of many talents that spread into different industries. Other than being a fashion designer, he was an artist and DJ. His interest in DJing started when he was a teenager when he would perform at house parties. He then started performing at several fashion afterparties, and in summer of 2018 he performed at LollaPalooza and other festivals including Tomorrowland and Coachella. During the festivals he would preview unreleased tracks from his friends, including Kanye West and Drake. In 2019 he had his own Vegas residency at XS Nightclub.
Regarding his art career, he partnered up with famous artist Takashi Murakami to create art pieces which were auctioned off for thousands of dollars. His art career did not stop there. His designs are transformed into prints and he created shows in major museums.
He believed everything created could be connected and that nothing was exclusive. He created a new pathway for creatives to venture down and experiment with different works and styles. For Paris Fashion Week he brought skate culture to the streets of Paris. He installed P9 benches, which allowed for passersby to sit on and for skaters to use as a ramp.
Collaborations
Virgil Abloh has collaborated with many brands throughout his years, too many to mention. So here are some of the most important and innovative collaborations he has done that express his talent and ability to think outside the box.
Virgil Abloh x Mercedes Benz
In 2020, Abloh partnered up with Mercedes Benz, a German car manufacturer to create Project Geländewagen. This project consisted of a revamped version of the G-Class SUV, which showcased the designers futuristic and minimalistic aesthetic with Abloh’s signature primary colors, and luxurious design.
Off-White x Nike Mercurial Vapor 360
In 2018, Abloh collaborated with Nike to create a pair of cleats named Mercurial Vapor 360 boots, embodying the signature color orange. Kylian Mbappé wore them for the first time at the French League Cup on March 31.
Virgil Abloh x Evian
A very unique collaboration approach is the one he did in 2019 with the mineral water brand, Evian. They invited Virgil Abloh to collaborate on an environmentally friendly project, under the label Off-White. It consisted of a 100% eco-friendly reusable “Soma” bottle, featuring bright colored inscriptions “Rainbow Inside”.
Off White x Ikea
In October 2017, he disclosed a new interior design project with Ikea, a Swedish furniture giant. The line featured the infamous rug, printed with the words “Keep Off” with a navy blue color with white details. Other pieces were part of this project, including a towel, a colorful green rug with white writing stating “Wet Grass”, and many other unique pieces.
Virgil Abloh x Moët & Chandon
In 2018, Virgil Abloh partnered with popular champagne company, Moët & Chandon to design a signature champagne bottle. The collaboration resulted in a bottle of Moët Nectar Impérial Rosé with the phrase “Do not Drop.”
In conclusion, the impact left by Virgil Abloh is not only seen in the fashion industry, but the overall world of luxury and design. His collaborations brought creative new ideas for future projects, and has permanently changed how style and design is approached. He used some unconventional methods to showcase his intelligence and skills, however, they have all proven to be successful and impactful.
Now I would like to hear what you think about him, his collaborations, and the legacy he left behind. Let me know in the comments your thoughts and opinions.
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2 Comments
Good and complete article. I do not know much about him but I heard a lot since when he passed away.
Reading all details in this article, I can say he covered several roles in his (unfortunately) short career: artist, designer, innovator, influencer and much more.
Anyway, there is just one reflection from my side: no doubts about his skills but how important is to have the “right” network (for him at the beginning was Kanye West) to help promoting yourself and your products?
I personally believe that having the right people onboard is sometimes more important than what you are able to do or prodcuce, especially in the digital era.
What do you think?
Thank you very much. I do agree that having the right connections can be of greater influence than your capabilities, and in this case he was very lucky to have Kanye West. However, he had a passion for fashion and design since he was little, which not only improved his skills, but also motivated him to get to the top. The push at the beginning (in my opinion) was because of his talent, as otherwise he would have not been taken onboard or under Kanye’s wing.
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