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*Virgil Abloh, founder of boutique street wear label Off-White and longtime collaborator of Kanye West, has been tapped as the new artistic director for Louis Vuitton’s men’s wear, The New York Times reported Monday (March 26).
Virgil, who is a first-generation Ghanaian-American, becomes the first black designer to hold the position in the storied history of LV.
.@VirgilAbloh joins #LouisVuitton
Louis Vuitton is delighted to welcome Virgil Abloh as its new Men’s Artistic Director. His first show will take place in June during Men’s Fashion Week in Paris. pic.twitter.com/4aEOH7T9J8
— Louis Vuitton (@LouisVuitton) March 26, 2018
“I feel elated,” the 37-year-old Illinois native told the Times. “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.”
Michael Burke, who serves as chief executive of Louis Vuitton, remembers meeting Abloh when he interned at Fendi Roma with Kanye back in 2006. “I paid them $500 a month,” Burke said. “I was really impressed with how they brought a whole new vibe to the studio and were disruptive in the best way. Virgil could create a metaphor and a new vocabulary to describe something as old-school as Fendi. I have been following his career ever since.”
Abloh, who follows Kim Jones at Louis Vuitton, will still continue his duties at Off-White.
He is expected to show his debut collection with Louis Vuitton during Paris Men’s Fashion Week in June.
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