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Many a HYPEBEAST commenter has asked if we can go a day without a post on Virgil Abloh. Try as we might, the designer simply keeps making stuff — be it shoes, furniture, ballet costumes, even water bottles — for us to talk about, and readers keep wanting to click and weigh in on the prolific creator’s latest product. Accusations of copying or laziness certainly haven’t phased the Off-White™ and Louis Vuitton designer — he’s too busy crafting the next project to stop and worry about such criticism.
But with such a variety and quantity of collaborations under his belt, it begs the question: are all of Virgil’s collaborations actually good? How do you rate the success of one collaboration over another? We decided to rank some of his most prominent collaborations from the past few years on scales of least to most hyped (based on factors such as the product’s resale value and the amount of buzz it received at its launch) and not for the culture to extremely for the culture (based on how much the product does or doesn’t factor into overall streetwear culture). If you disagree with our (extremely unscientific) rankings, feel free to share your opinion in the comments.
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Virgil Abloh C/O Vitra
Virgil’s collaboration with Swiss company Vitra aimed to bring streetwear sensibility to the high-end design world — was it successful? Presumably, as it managed to get some fans to spend hundreds of dollars on an orange brick, so there’s that.
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Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech” at MCA Chicago
No one can say Virgil doesn’t look out for his hometown with this exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Perhaps it’s a little premature for a designer who isn’t even 40 to have a retrospective, but it’s never too soon for museums to recognize streetwear’s cultural contributions.
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evian® C/O virgil abloh™
Virgil’s Evian collaboration has lofty ideals with its “One Drop can make a Rainbow” slogan and commitment to sustainability, but it is ultimately a fancy water bottle — sorry “hydration accessory.” Or, so says the press release, “We don’t see just water, we see infinite possibilities and inspiration for anyone. Everyone.” Huh? Whatever it means, the people lined up.
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Virgil Abloh x IKEA
Not even officially released yet, Virgil’s IKEA collection has already produced more hype than the build-it-yourself furniture can reasonably stand. The accessibly-priced furniture company will surely produce far less supply than there is demand, so expect to see these would-be dorm furniture pieces shoot up in price almost immediately.
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Off-White™ x Nike “The Ten”
You can debate all day about which shoe is the best in Virgil’s seminal “The Ten” collection for Nike, but the collaboration is objectively one of the most hyped sneaker collaborations ever and shows some of the best uses of Virgil’s signature design elements. 10/10 for “The Ten.”
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Off-White™ x RIMOWA
RIMOWA found a way to match the success of its coveted Supreme cases by going to the king of collabs. The clear Off-White™ suitcase collection now commands well over $1,000 USD on resale — those who own one will likely be more concerned about the bag itself being stolen while traveling than the contents inside.
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Moët & Chandon C/O Virgil Abloh™
Here Virgil slapped one of his famous phrases on a bottle of rosé champagne. A fun collaboration or just a lucrative way for LVMH to cross-promote its brands? You decide. Either way, champagne is involved.
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Off-White™ x Nike "Football, Mon Amour"
Nike and Off-White™ returned to the well for another collaboration following the success of “The Ten.” Though not as groundbreaking or hyped as that launch, “Football, Mon Amour” did produce fun, colorful takes on old school soccer kits and a pre-distressed football — which of course goes for nearly $100 USD on resale.
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Off-White™ x Equinox Scrub Sweatsuit
It’s… for a good cause? There’s not much else to say about this collaboration with Equinox, which resulted in $500 USD luxury scrubs. Yes, luxury scrubs. Proceeds from the $500 USD scrubs went towards the gym’s Cycle for Survival organization, which benefits cancer research.
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Off-White™ x Timberland
How do you update the classic Timberland boot? If you’re Virgil Abloh, you dress it up in neon velvet. The highlighter orange and green velvet boots may not have been as practical as the traditional camel, but they did predate the craze for all things neon.
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Virgil Abloh x Cha Cha Matcha
Virgil Abloh’s logo redesign for the opening of Cha Cha Matcha’s West Hollywood outpost was not exactly the most original, adding a few of his signature quotation marks to the matcha chain’s existing pink and green color scheme. He may have phoned this one in for the free matcha lattes, but who are we to blame him?
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Off-White™ x Warby Parker
Released in 2017, Virgil’s collaboration with Warby Parker helped bring Off-White™ to a more mainstream audience, with a clever but straightforward collection of “small,” “medium” and “large” sunglasses. Fine, but not groundbreaking either.
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Moncler O
Prior to launching its Moncler Genius project, Moncler tried its hand with the designer of the moment by tapping Virgil for a collaboration. With Off-White™ branding applied to Moncler outerwear, the results producing eye-catching enough pieces, but they have since been largely superseded by Moncler’s flashier, more ambitious collaborations with the likes of Simone Rocha and Francesco Ragazzi.
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Virgil Abloh for New York City Ballet
Always looking to work in every cultural sphere, Virgil created dance costumes for a new work by choreographer Gianna Reisen for New York City Ballet’s Fall 2017 Gala. The resulting look perhaps also served as a starting point for Serena Williams’ famed tennis tutus — though naysayers would likely call the latter a lazy copycat.
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Off-White™ C/O Jimmy Choo
Virgil stuck to his luxury cohorts with this Jimmy Choo collab, which made a splashy debut at Paris Fashion Week in 2017. The plastic-covered heels were beloved by supermodels, enough that Off-White™ released another Jimmy Choo boot in 2018.
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Levi’s® Made & Crafted™ x Off-White ℅ Virgil Abloh™
In this case, Virgil did do more than slapping his quotation marks on existing pieces, going instead for a color-blocked take on classic Levi’s denim. But it seems the people want more obvious branding, and the collection hasn’t maintained the hype.
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Heron Preston x Off-White™ "COLLABORATION"
Considering it involved two of the biggest names in streetwear, Off-White™’s collaboration with Heron Preston was fairly lowkey. Aptly titled “COLLABORATION,” the clear PVC bag was on trend but not especially coveted following its initial release.
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Off-White™ x KITH “OFF PALETTE”
Yes, it’s another co-branded hoodie. But for this collection Ronnie Fieg and Virgil did introduce a soft grey and pink hiking boot, getting ahead of the now ubiquitous trend. Difficult to come by, hoodies from the collab can now easily go for up to $700 USD on resale.
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Off-White™ x Vilebrequin
The most successful collaborations allow two brands to create something they wouldn’t have been able to do alone. Off-White™ however does create its own swimwear, so its collection with French brand Vilebrequin just produced some swim trunks stamped with the former brand’s logos without much other innovation. That said, new swimwear for summer is an easy sell.
tap to return to chart
Off-White™ x Futura
For his most recent Paris fashion show, Virgil turned to legendary graffiti artist Futura to not only lend pieces to the set design, but also create pieces for the show. The artist offered his touch to T-shirts, blazers and more, but his Nike sneaker for Off-White™ stands to be one of the most hyped sneakers of the Spring/Summer 2020 season.
tap to return to chart
Off-White™ x Dover Street Market Capsule
Virgil has launched many exclusive capsules for retailers, but his Dover Street Market collection to launch the boutique’s Los Angeles opening actually included co-branding, with a new “DSM” logo appearing throughout. But as a standard co-branded capsule, it didn’t garner much hype.
tap to return to chart
Off-White™ x Chrome Hearts
Oh look — it’s a co-branded hoodie. At the very least, the collaborative Chrome Hearts hoodies feature an eye-catching neon-orange color — and due to its limited initial drop, the piece can now command over $1,000 USD.
Virgil Abloh C/O Vitra
Virgil’s collaboration with Swiss company Vitra aimed to bring streetwear sensibility to the high-end design world — was it successful? Presumably, as it managed to get some fans to spend hundreds of dollars on an orange brick, so there’s that.
Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech” at MCA Chicago
No one can say Virgil doesn’t look out for his hometown with this exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Perhaps it’s a little premature for a designer who isn’t even 40 to have a retrospective, but it’s never too soon for museums to recognize streetwear’s cultural contributions.
evian® C/O virgil abloh™
Virgil’s Evian collaboration has lofty ideals with its “One Drop can make a Rainbow” slogan and commitment to sustainability, but it is ultimately a fancy water bottle — sorry “hydration accessory.” Or, so says the press release, “We don’t see just water, we see infinite possibilities and inspiration for anyone. Everyone.” Huh? Whatever it means, the people lined up.
Virgil Abloh x IKEA
Not even officially released yet, Virgil’s IKEA collection has already produced more hype than the build-it-yourself furniture can reasonably stand. The accessibly-priced furniture company will surely produce far less supply than there is demand, so expect to see these would-be dorm furniture pieces shoot up in price almost immediately.
Off-White™ x Nike “The Ten”
You can debate all day about which shoe is the best in Virgil’s seminal “The Ten” collection for Nike, but the collaboration is objectively one of the most hyped sneaker collaborations ever and shows some of the best uses of Virgil’s signature design elements. 10/10 for “The Ten.”
Off-White™ x RIMOWA
RIMOWA found a way to match the success of its coveted Supreme cases by going to the king of collabs. The clear Off-White™ suitcase collection now commands well over $1,000 USD on resale — those who own one will likely be more concerned about the bag itself being stolen while traveling than the contents inside.
Moët & Chandon C/O Virgil Abloh™
Here Virgil slapped one of his famous phrases on a bottle of rosé champagne. A fun collaboration or just a lucrative way for LVMH to cross-promote its brands? You decide. Either way, champagne is involved.
Off-White™ x Nike "Football,
Mon Amour"
Nike and Off-White™ returned to the well for another collaboration following the success of “The Ten.” Though not as groundbreaking or hyped as that launch, “Football, Mon Amour” did produce fun, colorful takes on old school soccer kits and a pre-distressed football — which of course goes for nearly $100 USD on resale.
Off-White™ x Equinox Scrub Sweatsuit
It’s… for a good cause? There’s not much else to say about this collaboration with Equinox, which resulted in $500 USD luxury scrubs. Yes, luxury scrubs. Proceeds from the $500 USD scrubs went towards the gym’s Cycle for Survival organization, which benefits cancer research.
Off-White™ x Timberland
How do you update the classic Timberland boot? If you’re Virgil Abloh, you dress it up in neon velvet. The highlighter orange and green velvet boots may not have been as practical as the traditional camel, but they did predate the craze for all things neon.
Virgil Abloh x Cha Cha Matcha
Virgil Abloh’s logo redesign for the opening of Cha Cha Matcha’s West Hollywood outpost was not exactly the most original, adding a few of his signature quotation marks to the matcha chain’s existing pink and green color scheme. He may have phoned this one in for the free matcha lattes, but who are we to blame him?
Off-White™ x Warby Parker
Released in 2017, Virgil’s collaboration with Warby Parker helped bring Off-White™ to a more mainstream audience, with a clever but straightforward collection of “small,” “medium” and “large” sunglasses. Fine, but not groundbreaking either.
Moncler O
Prior to launching its Moncler Genius project, Moncler tried its hand with the designer of the moment by tapping Virgil for a collaboration. With Off-White™ branding applied to Moncler outerwear, the results producing eye-catching enough pieces, but they have since been largely superseded by Moncler’s flashier, more ambitious collaborations with the likes of Simone Rocha and Francesco Ragazzi.
Virgil Abloh for New York City Ballet
Always looking to work in every cultural sphere, Virgil created dance costumes for a new work by choreographer Gianna Reisen for New York City Ballet’s Fall 2017 Gala. The resulting look perhaps also served as a starting point for Serena Williams’ famed tennis tutus — though naysayers would likely call the latter a lazy copycat.
Off-White™ C/O Jimmy Choo
Virgil stuck to his luxury cohorts with this Jimmy Choo collab, which made a splashy debut at Paris Fashion Week in 2017. The plastic-covered heels were beloved by supermodels, enough that Off-White™ released another Jimmy Choo boot in 2018.
Levi’s® Made & Crafted™ x Off-White C/O Virgil Abloh™
In this case, Virgil did do more than slapping his quotation marks on existing pieces, going instead for a color-blocked take on classic Levi’s denim. But it seems the people want more obvious branding, and the collection hasn’t maintained the hype.
Heron Preston x Off-White™ "COLLABORATION"
Considering it involved two of the biggest names in streetwear, Off-White™’s collaboration with Heron Preston was fairly lowkey. Aptly titled “COLLABORATION,” the clear PVC bag was on trend but not especially coveted following its initial release.
Off-White™ x KITH “OFF PALETTE”
Yes, it’s another co-branded hoodie. But for this collection Ronnie Fieg and Virgil did introduce a soft grey and pink hiking boot, getting ahead of the now ubiquitous trend. Difficult to come by, hoodies from the collab can now easily go for up to $700 USD on resale.
Off-White™ x Vilebrequin
The most successful collaborations allow two brands to create something they wouldn’t have been able to do alone. Off-White™ however does create its own swimwear, so its collection with French brand Vilebrequin just produced some swim trunks stamped with the former brand’s logos without much other innovation. That said, new swimwear for summer is an easy sell.
Off-White™ x Futura
For his most recent Paris fashion show, Virgil turned to legendary graffiti artist Futura to not only lend pieces to the set design, but also create pieces for the show. The artist offered his touch to T-shirts, blazers and more, but his Nike sneaker for Off-White™ stands to be one of the most hyped sneakers of the Spring/Summer 2020 season.
Off-White™ x Dover Street Market Capsule
Virgil has launched many exclusive capsules for retailers, but his Dover Street Market collection to launch the boutique’s Los Angeles opening actually included co-branding, with a new “DSM” logo appearing throughout. But as a standard co-branded capsule, it didn’t garner much hype.
Off-White™ x Chrome Hearts
Oh look — it’s a co-branded hoodie. At the very least, the collaborative Chrome Hearts hoodies feature an eye-catching neon-orange color — and due to its limited initial drop, the piece can now command over $1,000 USD.
The Official Virgil Abloh Collaboration Power Rankings
* tap item to reveal and hide descriptions
The Official Virgil Abloh
Collaboration Power Rankings