"ultimate
collaboration"
"ultimate
collaboration"
Click the key below to transform these Louis Vuitton pieces into signature Abloh designs.
The virgilizer — put a "v" on it
Click the Photos to Learn More
Typography lover meet typographer lover. Holzer and Abloh teamed up to create $100 tee to benefit Planned Parenthood tees.
jenny holzer x virgil abloh
©12.17
Levi’s website touts Virgil Abloh’s designs for the denim dynamo as an “architectural-DJ take” that “remixes” and “splices up” the traditional Levi’s look.
Levi’s ® Made & Crafted™ x Off-White ℅ Virgil Abloh™
@11.16
The brainchild of Japanese musician and Goodenough designer Hiroshi Fujiwara. Abloh and Fujiwara collabed a few times, the first of which for this construction company themed collection.
OFF-WHITE x Fragment Design
©2016
The first capsule collection featured heavy duty rain gear; the second, in 2017, went for lightweight windbreakers and cotton tees.
Montcler O
©02.16
Every fall, Sarah Jessica Parker, the chairwoman of the New York City Ballet, puts on a fall gala that blends dance with the world of fashion, pegging the season’s hottest designers to create one-off designs for each ballet performance. Abloh’s Off-White provided costumes for Composer’s Holiday.
NYC Ballet
©09.17
Back in the early days of Pyrex, Abloh was screen printing logos onto Champion sweatshirts. Now, he’s teamed up with them, which is apparently different.
Off-White™ x Champion-
©11.17
Abloh teamed up on Kanye’s first real attempt to break into the fashion world. Pieces from the Pastelle line only surfaced when worn by Kanye and a few choice celebs like Rihanna and it never came to fruition.
Pastelle
©2008
Off-White’s Spring 2018 runway featured nine original shoes co-designed by Abloh and Jimmy Choo. The most popular of which were the Rihanna-approved thigh-high leather boots with the words “for walking” emblazoned on them.
Off-White ™ Jimmy Choo ℅
©02.18
Named for West’s late mother, the press shy creative collective (with Abloh as creative director) is responsible for a slew of projects, from Kanye’s Yeezy tour staging, to Kim Kardashian-West’s picture book Selfish, to the Grammy-nominated album art for Watch the Throne.
DondA
©2010
Travis Scott’s birthday show at New York’s Terminal 5 featured DJ Flat White (Abloh’s moniker) as an opener and $120 Off-White hoodies at the merch booth.
Virgil Abloh c/o Travis Scott
©05.17
Patterned doormats with “KEEP OFF” emblazoned on them and a mustard tote that reads “SCULPTOR” are just two of the unreleased pieces from the forthcoming Virgil and Ikea pairing.
Off-White™ x Ikea
©2018
The two streetwear legends worked together on a tote that features their iconography on either side, as well as an exhibition in the Gagosian Gallery in London entitled “Future History.” Featured work includes original paintings and an Abloh-built greenhouse.
Off-White x Takashi Murakami
©01.18
Considered Umbro’s official entry into streetwear, this collection featured sneakers, tees, shorts, and flannels that looked just like Pyrex Vision’s $550 Rugby Ralph Lauren shirts. (See above.)
Umbro x Off-White
©02.17
The Virgilized Vans appeared on the runway for Off-White’s Spring 2017 menswear collection, sneakerheads anticipated a 2018 release. However, the kicks were never released
Off-White™ x Vans
©2017
Alboh teased a gold paper clip with “Jacob the Jeweler” and the words “Office Supplies” etched on it, but alas, the piece was never released.
Off-White ℅ Jacob the Jeweler
©07.17
Abloh launched Pyrex Vision exclusively at his Chicago store RSVP and the brand quickly became the “it” look for Soundcloud rappers. It featured bold typography, graphic shirts and unapologetic sampling. One of their biggest hits was a $550 flannel that made from a Rugby Ralph Lauren model.
Pyrex Vision
©2013
Unsure of what to say during an upcoming lecture at the elite design school, Abloh decided to show off the school’s resources. Hours before the lecture, he bought two sweatshirts on and enlisted students to help him customize them. Alboh praised the RISD logo: “You guys have one of the top five logos of anything. It’s better than every streetwear brand.”
Rhode Island School of Design x Virgil Abloh
©05.17
Swedish cosmetics and home goods company paired with Alboh to create a perfume line called “Elevator Music.”
Off-White™ x Byredo
©03.18
Abloh paired up with former Been Trill partner Preston to create a handbag simply called “Collaboration,” in Preston’s signature orange and with Off-White’s typography on the bag and handle.
Heron Preston x Off-White ™
©02.17
Reaching back into his rap merch roots, Abloh designed tees for Kid Cudi’s 2017 Passion, Pain and Demon Slaying tour. They ran for a limited time and are now tough to find. (There’s one on Ebay for $190).
Mr. Rager
©11.17
How much creative direction can you give juice? If you’re Virgil Abloh, put your signature quotations around the ingredients and a few lines of left aligned text at the bottom of the bottle. Boom, Off-White x Trendy Energy Drink.
Off-White ™ x Wild & The Moon
©02.18
Long before the news broke that Abloh was the new creative director for LV, he stoked the rumor mill by showing up to Vogue’s Forces in Fashion event toting a Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons carpenter bag, with a “strap” hanging from it.
Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons
©10.17
“The Ten” was a collection of ten iconic Nike sneakers styled in traditional Off-White iconography, priced between $150 and $250. The shoes were released in waves and were available solely by lottery, to make that that much more coveted.
Nike x Off-White™
©08.17
Kith x Off-White “OFF-PALETTE”
©03.17
Kith’s trademark color palette (apricot and tan) met Off-White shapes and branding.
Been Trill
©2012
Abloh, streetwear photog Heron Preston, and Donda designer Matthew Williams threw parties under Been Trill brand before transitioning into clothing.
Off-White™ x Sunglass Hut
©03.18
Another one of Abloh’s forays into affordability, this collab with Sunglass Hut offers three frames featuring his iconic crossed-arrows logo, retailing at $95 dollars.
Off-White™ x Timberland
©12.17
A collection of four Virgil takes on the classic construction boot-turned-streetwear must-have, are notably ill-suited for the construction site—they’re covered in velour and one pair is lime green.
OFF-WHITE ℅ VIRGIL ABLOH ™ x Warby Parker
©07.17
The three pairs Abloh designed were called “SMALL SUNGLASSES,” “MEDIUM SUNGLASSES,” and “LARGE SUNGLASSES” respectively, and cost $95 per pair. They sold out... on the first day.
#OFFWISCONSIN
©09.15
This t-shirt fundraiser for the University of Wisconsin’s Great People Scholarship fund incorporates the classic Off-White diagonal stripes on the backs of all three variations.
Ten years ago, the most interesting thing about Virgil Abloh was his connection to Kanye West. The two met in their native Chicago, quickly fell into a creative sync, teamed up on the rapper’s merch, and in 2009, interned at Fendi together. In March, 2018, the Ghanaian-American was named Louis Vuitton's new creative director for menswear—the first African-American man to hold the title. Abloh, a prolific and promiscuous collaborator who’s lent his creative might to more than 25 partnerships in the last two years alone, sees his new job as yet another mind meld—he told the New York Times, “I think of it as kind of the ultimate collaboration.”
Abloh productions are easy to spot—Helvetica font, quotation marks, crossed arrows are tell-tale signs—and they’re currently ubiquitous. Matthew Schneier from The New York Times calls Abloh, “a kind of seismograph, a sensitive observer of the vibes that whip around the world at digital speed, and the interesting and potentially innovative ways in which they can be combined.” Few designers are more unmistakably a product of their times, and the fashion of Abloh’s now is brand-obsessed, with a deep faith in the style of the streets and a reliance on the ADD of youth culture. Now, he’s bringing the congregation of sneakerheads right up to the front doors of fashion’s Notre Dame.
Over the past two years alone, Abloh has literally collaborated his way from the University of Wisconsin to the most august of Paris houses. Here are the partnerships that got him there.
"HELVETICA"
THE MARK OF VIRGIL:
"VIRGIL ABLOH"
"OFF-WHITE"
"VIRGIL ABLOH"
Words by Alyssa Mercante
Design by Tri Vo
How Kanye’s creative partner collaborated his way from rap merch to Louis Vuitton.
Virgil Abloh plays well with others
ABLOH ©2018
"VIRGIL ABLOH"
"FLAT WHITE"
"VIRGIL ABLOH"
Get more
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"VIRGIL ABLOH"
"OFF-WHITE"
"VIRGIL ABLOH"
"ABLOH ©2018"
Virgil Abloh plays well with others
How Kanye’s creative partner collaborated his way from rap merch to Louis Vuitton.
Words by Alyssa Mercante
Design by Tri Vo
the mark of virgil:
"HELVETICA"
Ten years ago, the most interesting thing about Virgil Abloh was his connection to Kanye West. The two met in their native Chicago, quickly fell into a creative sync, teamed up on the rapper’s merch, and in 2009, interned at Fendi together. In March, 2018, the Ghanaian-American was named Louis Vuitton's new creative director for menswear—the first African-American man to hold the title. Abloh, a prolific and promiscuous collaborator who’s lent his creative might to more than 25 partnerships in the last two years alone, sees his new job as yet another mind meld—he told the New York Times, “I think of it as kind of the ultimate collaboration.”
Abloh productions are easy to spot—Helvetica font, quotation marks, crossed arrows are tell-tale signs—and they’re currently ubiquitous. Matthew Schneier from The New York Times calls Abloh, “a kind of seismograph, a sensitive observer of the vibes that whip around the world at digital speed, and the interesting and potentially innovative ways in which they can be combined.” Few designers are more unmistakably a product of their times, and the fashion of Abloh’s now is brand-obsessed, with a deep faith in the style of the streets and a reliance on the ADD of youth culture. Now, he’s bringing the congregation of sneakerheads right up to the front doors of fashion’s Notre Dame.
Over the past two years alone, Abloh has literally collaborated his way from the University of Wisconsin to the most august of Paris houses. Here are the partnerships that got him there.
Off-White™ x Ikea
©2018
Patterned doormats with “KEEP OFF” emblazoned on them and a mustard tote that reads “SCULPTOR” are just two of the unreleased pieces from the forthcoming Virgil and Ikea pairing.
tap to close
Off-White™ x Byredo
©03.18
Swedish cosmetics and home goods company paired with Alboh to create a perfume line called “Elevator Music.”
tap to close
Off-White™ x Sunglass Hut
©03.18
Another one of Abloh’s forays into affordability, this collab with Sunglass Hut offers three frames featuring his iconic crossed-arrows logo, retailing at $95 dollars.
tap to close
Off-White ™ x Wild & The Moon
©02.18
How much creative direction can you give juice? If you’re Virgil Abloh, put your signature quotations around the ingredients and a few lines of left aligned text at the bottom of the bottle. Boom, Off-White x Trendy Energy Drink.
tap to close
Off-White ™ Jimmy Choo ℅
©02.18
Off-White’s Spring 2018 runway featured nine original shoes co-designed by Abloh and Jimmy Choo. The most popular of which were the Rihanna-approved thigh-high leather boots with the words “for walking” emblazoned on them.
tap to close
Off-White x Takashi Murakami
©01.18
The two streetwear legends worked together on a tote that features their iconography on either side, as well as an exhibition in the Gagosian Gallery in London entitled “Future History.” Featured work includes original paintings and an Abloh-built greenhouse.
tap to close
Off-White™ x Timberland
©12.17
A collection of four Virgil takes on the classic construction boot-turned-streetwear must-have, are notably ill-suited for the construction site—they’re covered in velour and one pair is lime green.
tap to close
jenny holzer x virgil abloh
©12.17
Typography lover meet typographer lover. Holzer and Abloh teamed up to create $100 tee to benefit Planned Parenthood tees.
tap to close
Mr. Rager
©11.17
Reaching back into his rap merch roots, Abloh designed tees for Kid Cudi’s 2017 Passion, Pain and Demon Slaying tour. They ran for a limited time and are now tough to find. (There’s one on Ebay for $190).
tap to close
Off-White™ x Champion
©11.17
Back in the early days of Pyrex, Abloh was screen printing logos onto Champion sweatshirts. Now, he’s teamed up with them, which is apparently different.
tap to close
Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons
©10.17
Long before the news broke that Abloh was the new creative director for LV, he stoked the rumor mill by showing up to Vogue’s Forces in Fashion event toting a Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons carpenter bag, with a “strap” hanging from it.
tap to close
NYC Ballet
©09.17
Every fall, Sarah Jessica Parker, the chairwoman of the New York City Ballet, puts on a fall gala that blends dance with the world of fashion, pegging the season’s hottest designers to create one-off designs for each ballet performance. Abloh’s Off-White provided costumes for Composer’s Holiday.
tap to close
Off-White™ x Vans
©2017
The Virgilized Vans appeared on the runway for Off-White’s Spring 2017 menswear collection, sneakerheads anticipated a 2018 release. However, the kicks were never released
tap to close
Nike x Off-White™
©08.17
“The Ten” was a collection of ten iconic Nike sneakers styled in traditional Off-White iconography, priced between $150 and $250. The shoes were released in waves and were available solely by lottery, to make that that much more coveted.
tap to close
OFF-WHITE ℅ VIRGIL ABLOH ™ x Warby Parker
©07.17
The three pairs Abloh designed were called “SMALL SUNGLASSES,” “MEDIUM SUNGLASSES,” and “LARGE SUNGLASSES” respectively, and cost $95 per pair. They sold out... on the first day.
tap to close
Off-White ℅ Jacob the Jeweler
©07.17
Alboh teased a gold paper clip with “Jacob the Jeweler” and the words “Office Supplies” etched on it, but alas, the piece was never released.
tap to close
Virgil Abloh ℅ Travis Scott
©05.17
Travis Scott’s birthday show at New York’s Terminal 5 featured DJ Flat White (Abloh’s moniker) as an opener and $120 Off-White hoodies at the merch booth.
tap to close
Rhode Island School of Design x Virgil Abloh
©05.17
Unsure of what to say during an upcoming lecture at the elite design school, Abloh decided to show off the school’s resources. Hours before the lecture, he bought two sweatshirts on and enlisted students to help him customize them. Alboh praised the RISD logo: “You guys have one of the top 5 logos of anything. It’s better than every streetwear brand.”
tap to close
Kith x Off-White “OFF-PALETTE” Collection
©03.17
Kith’s trademark color palette (apricot and tan) met Off-White shapes and branding.
tap to close
Heron Preston x Off-White™
©02.17
Abloh paired up with former Been Trill partner Preston to create a handbag simply called “Collaboration,” in Preston’s signature orange and with Off-White’s typography on the bag and handle.
tap to close
Umbro x Off-White
©02.17
Considered Umbro’s official entry into streetwear, this collection featured sneakers, tees, shorts, and flannels that looked just like Pyrex Vision’s $550 Rugby Ralph Lauren shirts. (See above.)
tap to close
Levi’s ® Made & Crafted™ x Off-White ℅ Virgil Abloh™
©11.16
Levi’s website touts Virgil Abloh’s designs for the denim dynamo as an “architectural-DJ take” that “remixes” and “splices up” the traditional Levi’s look.
tap to close
Montcler O
©02.16
The first capsule collection featured heavy duty rain gear; the second, in 2017, went for lightweight windbreakers and cotton tees.
tap to close
OFF-WHITE x Fragment Design
©2016
The brainchild of Japanese musician and Goodenough designer Hiroshi Fujiwara. Abloh and Fujiwara collabed a few times, the first of which for this construction company themed collection.
tap to close
#offwisconsin
©09.15
This t-shirt fundraiser for the University of Wisconsin’s Great People Scholarship fund incorporates the classic Off-White diagonal stripes on the backs of all three variations.
tap to close
pyrex vision
©2013
Abloh launched Pyrex Vision exclusively at his Chicago store RSVP. The brand quickly became the “it” look for Soundcloud rappers. It featured bold typography, graphic shirts and unapologetic sampling. One of their biggest hits was a $550 flannel that made from a Rugby Ralph Lauren model.
tap to close
been trill
©2012
Abloh, streetwear photog Heron Preston, and Donda designer Matthew Williams threw parties under Been Trill brand before transitioning into clothing.
tap to close
Donda
©2010
Named for West’s late mother, the press shy creative collective (with Abloh as creative director) is responsible for a slew of projects, from Kanye’s Yeezy tour staging, to Kim Kardashian-West’s picture book Selfish, to the Grammy-nominated album art for Watch the Throne.
tap to close
Pastelle
©2008
Abloh teamed up on Kanye’s first real attempt to break into the fashion world. Pieces from the Pastelle line only surfaced when worn by Kanye and a few choice celebs like Rihanna and it never came to fruition.
tap to close
The virgilizer
— put a "v" on it
Click the key below to transform these Louis Vuitton pieces into signature Abloh designs.
"ultimate
collaboration"
"ultimate
collaboration"