On Monday, Louis Vuitton announced that Virgil Abloh — the founder of haute streetwear label Off-White would replace Kim Jones as the brand’s next artistic director of menswear. This makes him Louis Vuitton’s very first Black artistic director, and one of only a few Black designers — including Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing and Ozwald Boateng, Givenchy’s menswear designer from 2003-2007 — to helm a French heritage house.
“It is an honor for me to accept the position of Men’s Artistic Director for Louis Vuitton,” said Abloh, an Illinois native who reportedly plans to relocate his family to Paris for the role, 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.”
Abloh, who has no formal design training, will continue to run Off-White, telling The Times: “It is for the 17-year-old version of myself, whereas Vuitton is for the 37-year-old I am today.” (He’ll also continue to work with West, but will “cut back his other activities,” like DJing.) Abloh’s first collection for Louis Vuitton will debut during Paris Men’s Fashion Week in June.
Source: Fashionista
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