If Gen Z knows anything, its streetwear. Ask what Louis Vuitton or Off-White is and it’ll be hard to find someone who doesn’t recognize those brands. But, do they know the creative genius behind the designs?
Enter Virgil Abloh, a Black American designer and generational talent.
For me, design is about anything I find is worthy to tell a story about.
Virgil Abloh
Abloh served most notably as the artistic creator for Louis Vuitton menswear and founder of Off-White and is known for pushing the boundaries of high fashion and its relationship with street fashion. He’s been described as a “visionary” in the fashion community.
His pieces are incredibly distinct and stand out amongst the greys and beiges of our modern totally blah “clean girl” world.
He followed the “3% Approach,” which essentially means that by changing just three percent of the design, you create an entirely new product. For example, the Off-White collaboration with Converse only flips the tag on the back of the shoe upside down, adds an orange sole, features a signature Off-White quote, adds black stripes and features a small pop of orange above the logo on the side of the shoe. While it sounds like a lot, he really doesn’t change the structure of the shoe, but instead changes small, but noticeable, design elements.
His designs for Off-White are often characterized by asymmetry, solid colors, sporty elements, and overall, new takes on decidedly boring clothes.
Virgil Abloh turned sweatpants and sweatshirts into art for the first time since their creation.
A design he championed was the Off-White yellow caution tape belt, which rocked the Off-White runway show and was a staple in streetwear and high fashion in 2016.
At one Off-White runway show, Naomi Campbell closed, wearing Off-White biker shorts, an intentional and uniquely cut white blazer and a stunning jewel necklace. In theory, the outfit is a total flop, but somehow, Abloh and his genius made it come together perfectly. The outfit pays tribute to Princess Diana’s sense of fashion and does so remarkably well.
If you keep up with fashion news, you know the Bella Hadid-Kendall Jenner runway walk where they fall into stride together, walking almost completely in sync. Dressed in slightly different white outfits with contrasting patterns and textures, Abloh turns women’s clothing into something more than clothing. He creates an experience.
Even when finding his voice, he gave others a voice, which is key.
Ibrahim Kamara
While some may find his Louis Vuitton designs tacky, I find them refreshing. For the most part, he recognized that logo clothing was a thing of the past and instead introduced a classic leather brand to bright, funky colors which was revolutionary in the fashion world.
At his first show, almost every male model was dressed in bright, neon colors or white, a truly beautiful contrast.
His Louis Vuitton designs brought spontaneity and color back to the runway and to streetwear, finally.
Everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself.
Virgil Albloh according to his wife, Shannon Abloh
He was a creative genius in the fashion world, but also provided representation for the Black community in a majority white field and industry as one of the most powerful individuals in fashion.
There are very few Black designers and executives in the fashion industry and even fewer whose designs or ideas make it to the runway.
Virgil Abloh broke boundaries in a tradition-soaked fashion industry, bringing streetwear to the highest levels of the luxury market…
Business of Fashion
His life story is inspiring too.
Born to Ghanian immigrants in Chicago, he learned to sew from his mother, a seamstress. His first Louis Vuitton show reflects his life through a “Wizard of Oz” theme, inspired by the “American Dream and Abloh’s own boundary-breaking journey along a personal “Yellow Brick Road” of sorts, from Illinois to the Emerald City of Paris.”
The first time he ever dreamed of designing, or even working creatively, was after his run-in with Kanye West, with whom he later worked alongside with at Fendi and designed for/with.
Virgil Abloh passed away suddenly after a private struggle with cardiac cancer. News of his death rocked the fashion community and the industry will likely never be the same.
Though Virgil Abloh’s designs may never grace a runway again, his influence and contributions to streetwear will live forever.