Virgil Abloh has joined Louis Vuitton as artistic director of menswear, following the departure of Kim Jones earlier this year.
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He’s currently creative director of Off-White, a brand he launched in 2012 and for which he’s won much critical acclaim as well as commercial success. He’s widely credited for making urban streetwear desirable in the luxury fashion market.
“It is an honour for me to accept the position of men’s artistic director for Louis Vuitton,” said Abloh in a statement. “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.”
The Illinois-born designer originally trained in engineering and architecture before moving into the fashion industry, where he has since worked for more than a decade. He took home the Urban Luxe prize at the Fashion Awards last year for his work at Off-White, and has been nominated for both Menswear and Womenswear Designer of the Year at the 2018 CFDA Awards.
“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,” said Michael Burke, Louis Vuitton chairman and CEO. “His sensibility towards luxury and savoir-faire will be instrumental in taking Louis Vuitton’s menswear into the future.”
Kim Jones held the position of artistic menswear director at Vuitton for six years before showing his final collection in January. He was recently confirmed as the new artistic director of Dior Homme. Abloh’s first Vuitton collection will be unveiled during the Paris menswear shows in June.
From: Harper’s BAZAAR UK
