According to the Washington Post, on March 26, Louis Vuitton named Virgil Abloh the artistic director of its menswear division. Abloh is a self-taught designer behind the highly sought-after clothing of Off-White, a high-end streetwear fashion brand.
He has collaborated with Kanye West and Jay-Z as their artistic director for their album “Watch the Throne”. Abloh studied engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology; he is a self-taught designer. According to the Washington Post, Abloh’s inspiration for many of his designs comes from his childhood, his appreciation for high-end fashion, and his love for streetwear.
His brand Off-White has skyrocketed in popularity, selling out entire collections within minutes. Abloh has created Off-White collections in collaboration with the biggest names in fashion from Jimmy Choo to Nike.
Louis Vuitton’s appointment of Abloh is an unprecedented move from Louis Vuitton and an even greater achievement of Abloh. While fashion brands tend to take stylistic choices from minority designers and their streetwear, rarely are these designers ever recognized and given the opportunities they deserve to expand and cultivate their fashion in the fitting atmosphere. Abloh’s unique designs represent his community as well as his appreciation for his roots.
Abloh is the first Black man to hold the position of artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear division. Fans of Abloh and Off-White are excited to see what he does with Louis Vuitton’s fashion; according to the Washington Post , Louis Vuitton does not intend to transform its fashion by hiring Abloh, but reimagine its customers. “I think of it as kind of the ultimate collaboration,” Abloh told The New York Times.
