Virgil Abloh

Virgil Abloh was a designer and creator who revolutionized the fashion and design world with his innovative and multidisciplinary approach. Through his work as the founder of Off-White and as the artistic director of Louis Vuitton, Abloh left his mark on both streetwear and luxury fashion, creating a new aesthetic that inspired an entire generation. 

Virgil Abloh 1980 - 2021 

Virgil Abloh was born in 1980 in Rockford, Illinois, USA. In the early 2000s, he studied civil engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and later earned a master's degree in architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology. After receiving his architecture degree, Abloh interned at Fendi alongside rapper Kanye West. This partnership later led to Abloh becoming the creative director for West's creative agency, Donda, paving the way for his future successes in the fashion and design industry. 

In 2013, Virgil Abloh founded his own brand, Off-White, which quickly became a symbol of urban culture and avant-garde fashion. Off-White rapidly became a global phenomenon and established Abloh in modern design. In 2018, Abloh was appointed artistic director for Louis Vuitton's menswear collection, making him the first African American to lead one of the world's most prestigious luxury brands. 

Virgil Abloh and Cassina 

In addition to fashion, Abloh was also a product designer and collaborated with several prominent companies. One of his projects was the innovative piece of furniture, Modular Imagination, which he created for the Italian furniture company Cassina. This furniture combines Abloh's innovative design with Cassina's production expertise and encourages creativity with its multiple uses. 

Cassina was founded in 1927 by brothers Cesare and Umberto Cassina in northern Italy and is now world-renowned for its production of exclusive design furniture. Since its inception, the company has been unique for its innovative drive and has collaborated with several of the world's foremost architects and designers, including Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Marco Zanuso. 

Virgil Abloh's Passing 

Virgil Abloh tragically passed away from cancer in 2021, but his legacy lives on through his groundbreaking work and the lasting influence he has had on the fashion and design world. His unique ability to bring together different cultural expressions and create something entirely new and inspiring ensures that he will always be remembered as one of the most influential creators of our time. 

For more inspiration from Virgil Abloh, there is also the book "Virgil Abloh - Nike Icons," which documents his groundbreaking collaboration with Nike. The book showcases sneakers and defines the key people, objects, ideas, and places that the project The Ten was designed from. "Virgil Abloh - Nike Icons" is available in the assortment at Nordiska Galleriet via New Mags – leading in coffee table books in Scandinavia.