Virgil Abloh Named Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton Menswear
Kanye West’s longtime creative director Virgil Abloh is a Louis Vuitton Don. The 37-year-old entrepreneur is the new artistic director of menswear at the luxury brand.
Abloh is breaking barriers. He’s the first African-American artistic director of a top French heritage house. He also arrives on the heels of Kim Jones, his predecessor, who is now at Christian Dior.
🙏🏾✨™️ https://t.co/GL70V85FKt
— virgil abloh (@virgilabloh) March 26, 2018
“I feel elated,” he told The New York Times. “This opportunity to think through what the next chapter of design and luxury will mean at a brand that represents the pinnacle of luxury was always a goal in my wildest dreams. And to show a younger generation that there is no one way anyone in this kind of position has to look is a fantastically modern spirit in which to start.”
Virgil Abloh has already taken over the fashion world without a formal fashion education. He founded the award-winning and uber-popular Off-White in 2013 and has already worked with Nike, Jimmy Choo, Moncler, and Ikea. “In a way, all of my output has been to make a compelling case for me to take on a role such as this,” he explained. “I think of it as kind of the ultimate collaboration.”
Some things won’t change. Despite his new gig, Virgil Abloh will keep running Off-White and working with Kanye West. However, he may cut back on DJing. His first Louis Vuitton show will be in June.