Virgil Abloh Joins Louis Vuitton as Artistic Director of Men’s Wear

Virgil Abloh's journey through the fashion world has seen him launch the both Pyrex Vision and Off-White brands, and now takes him to Louis Vuitton. On Monday (March 26), Abloh was announced as the new artistic director of men's wear for the French fashion house.

As the first African-American artistic director for Louis Vuitton, Abloh said he was elated to be joining the famed brand. “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," he told The New York Times. "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.”

Before launching Pyrex Vision, Abloh and Kanye West interned at Fendi. It was those six months with the Italian fashion house that eventually helped Abloh land his latest gig. “Virgil is incredibly good at creating bridges between the classic and the zeitgeist of the moment,” said Michael Burke, chief executive of Louis Vuitton, who first met Abloh 12 years ago at Fendi.

“I paid them $500 a month!” Burke added. “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.”

While Abloh will now be working with Louis Vuitton, he will not discontinue his successful Off-White brand. "It is for the 17-year-old version of myself, whereas Vuitton is for the 37-year-old I am today," he said. Congratulations Virgil Abloh!

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