• Fashion

• Fashion

Virgil Abloh Becomes Louis Vuitton’s New Menswear Designer

11

It’s all over the internet and for good reason! We salute you, Virgil.

Louis Vuitton, French luxury brand, just crown Virgil Abloh as its new artistic director of menswear. The haute streetwear designer of Off-White and lifelong creative director to Kanye West will be replacing Kim Jones. Not only is this a huge career move for Abloh, but he is making history as one of very few black designers to top French house heritage. This is will mean so many things for the LV and hopefully, set a precedent for more luxury lines to come. Also, Abloh will have to relocate his entire family to Paris for his new role. (Ugh, what an inconvenience).

“I feel elated. 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

According to The New York Times, this announcement is going to shake-up the fashion industry as a whole. Mr. Abloh’s appointment is also a reflection of the increasing consumer-driven intermingling of the luxury and street wear sectors, which helped boost global sales of luxury personal goods by 5 percent last year to an estimated 263 billion euros (about $325 billion in today’s dollars), according to a recent study by the global consulting firm Bain & Company. And it is an acknowledgment on the part of the luxury industry that it must respond to contemporary culture in new ways.

Virgil has done an impeccable job at bridging the gap between the classic t-shirt and the more high-end couture. Along with his great success at communicating with his consumers, his outstanding resume includes interning at Fendi with Kanye West, worked with Nike, Jimmy Choo and even Ikea.

The first generation Ghanaian-American will continue to run Off-White and work with Mr. West, but is willing to cut back on his other activities. He will show his first collection for Louis Vuitton during Paris Men’s Fashion Week in June. Can’t wait!