Virgil Abloh’s appointment to helm menswear at Louis Vuitton was a watershed moment in diversity and a nod to the changing paradigm of fashion. But are his collections more than just hype?
Virgil Abloh is not unfamiliar with irony. Case in point: the quotation marks that have become synonymous with his work at his streetwear label, Off-White, are his way of operating in a form of ironic indifference.
The irony must not be lost on him. The man who was once denied entry into fashion shows during fashion week is currently at the helm of one the biggest luxury brands in the world, and the and the collection he is about to drop is the hottest ticket in town.
Well, he is definitely not in Illinois anymore. So how did the kid from Chicago who grew up thinking Michael Jordan was a superhero end up at the helm of Louis Vuitton? You’ve heard the Kanye narrative, where Abloh served as his fashion consigliere and provided creative direction. That’s not forgetting the commercial and cultural success of Off-White. But we are here for the origin story, and Abloh’s lies in the Louis Vuitton store that he would pass by every day during his formative years.
This story is from the February 2019 edition of Esquire Singapore.
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This story is from the February 2019 edition of Esquire Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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