In 2018, Louis Vuitton named Virgil Abloh as creative director of menswear. Since he was the first black man to hold that position at the luxury goods company, his career marked a watershed point. Abloh’s story is more complex than a black guy gaining success in a company ran primarily by a white workforce. It’s not simply a story of an immigrant kid succeeding in the United States.
Throughout his career he learned that being an entrepreneur means constantly reinventing oneself, remixing existing ideas, collaborating, adapting to changing market conditions, looking forward and upward.
By using talent and creativity in remarkable ways, it’s possible to accomplish more than you could on your own.
Collaborations of Virgil Abloh
Besides Nike and Levi’s, his other partnerships with iconic companies helped develop his brand into something extraordinary. He innovates fashion items to make it appear one-of-a-kind, trendy, and imaginative. This is one of the factors that contributed to the enormous success of his brand. It seems like everything he touches turns into a creative masterpiece.
It is uncommon for young people to reject original and creative ideas. They always work, no matter how bad things are. Virgil’s brand is a success because of his ability to inspire and be intellectually creative at once. He defies the norm. He breaks the glass ceiling.
The curiosity of others is piqued by his fashion ingenuity. Various products get an innovative, creative, and visionary makeover, thanks to his brilliant ideas. A true testament of this is his collaboration with Louis Vuitton. Minimal, trendy, modern and current are the adjectives that best describes Abloh’s aesthetic.
Virgil Abloh has risen to the top of the cultural food chain with Kanye West, Louis Vuitton, and his brands. Celebrities have been spotted wearing his designs. Knockoffs and fast fashion brands alike were quick to imitate them. Go to a tide brand shop and you’ll see different products labeled as Off White.
He Didn’t Wait Around For the Right Opportunity to Come Along
Instead of waiting for approval, the designer went with his gut instinct. During his early days, he invested in a screen printer and a large number of shirts before getting down to business. People were curious about the brand after seeing him travel in the clothing he was wearing while combining fashion with streetwear. Pyrex Vision was born in this manner, and the company went on to become Off White. As he said to Teen Vogue, he began designing clothes using what he could afford at the time.
“You don’t have to begin with a large budget. To be successful, you must be ready to be the first to believe in your ideas.”
Surround Yourself With Inspiration
Abloh’s career has been defined by his frequent allusion to fashion trends. While many fashion designers look to the past for inspiration, Virgil Abloh prefers to be surrounded by tastemakers and influencers from the present. As a result, he can remain on top of current trends and predict popularity in the next years to come.
Virgil Abloh died at the age of 41, caused by an aggressive form of cancer. His death was confirmed by his family.
According to his and his wife’s wishes, Virgil Abloh’s SS22 Louis Vuitton collection will still be presented as planned in Miami on Tuesday. The collection titled ‘Virgil Was Here’ will celebrate his impact on fashion and his body of work.
Rest well, creative genius. Rest well.
