Louis Vuitton has appointed Virgil Abloh as its first African-American artistic director of menswear. The 37-year-old creative director of luxe streetwear brand of logo-led aesthetic, Off-White, now succeeds Kim Jones, and will be staging his first collection for the French fashion house this June during men’s fashion week in Paris.
A first-generation Ghanaian-American, the Illinois native and multi-hyphenate, has been socially crowned in the streetwear scene as one of the biggest purveyors of cool, despite lacking a traditional fashion background.
“It is an honor for me to accept the position of Men’s Artistic Director for Louis Vuitton. I find the heritage and creative integrity of the House are key inspirations and will look to reference them both while drawing parallels to modern times.” stated Abloh.
Although the celebrity DJ’s name has been highlighted as a prime candidate for the top spot that has been vacant since January, fans of Kanye West’s protege were in a state of frenzy and delight via various social media announcements as Abloh assumed his position at luxury stalwart Vuitton,
“Having followed with great interest Virgil’s ascent since he worked with me at Fendi in 2006, I am thrilled to see how his innate creativity and disruptive approach have made him so relevant, not just in the world of fashion but in popular culture today. His sensibility towards luxury and savoir-faire will be instrumental in taking Louis Vuitton’s menswear into the future.” said Michael Burke, Louis Vuitton’s Chairman & CEO.
There is no doubt that Abloh will bring on his unique slant towards a new, fresh era at the iconic French label. After all, it is his successful collaborations that have wooed Louis Vuitton to ride on his momentum, leading him to hold the highly-regarded position in fashion.
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