by Isaac Perry
‘Louis Vuitton is delighted to welcome Virgil Abloh as its new Men’s Artistic Director”
Read the press release earlier this week, so the rumours were true, Virgil Abloh is the new Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton appointed on the 26th of this month, changing the face of fashion.
Having been an immovable force in the fashion industry over the past couple of years his brand off-white has caught global headlines and been awarded multiple honours, making streetwear the new desirable high fashion. Abloh has become Louis Vuitton’s first African-American Artistic Director and become one of a few black designers to have graced French fashion houses, with many recognisable names such as Gucci, Balenciaga and Burberry all being lead by white males and the introduction of Virgil to this elite group of brands will bring a fresh diversity, not seen within the last couple of years.
Louis Vuitton is one of the eldest and most recognisable brands around the world with its ever so iconic print desired by so many. The brand fused high fashion and streetwear together through their most recent collaboration with skatewear brand Supreme, which I’m sure you were all aware of. This collaboration was down to Abloh’s predecessor Kim Jones’s creative influence, with Virgil being a natural progression into this realm.
Virgil has been quoted saying, “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”.
Former creative director Kim Jones was appointed in 2011 and brought what could be considered a new look to this industry, he has now has moved to fellow LVMH- owned brand Christian Dior, is this the shift we have been waiting for?
London has been a dominating force in fashion over the past decades, however, are the iconic French fashion houses taking back the crown? We’ll have to wait and see.
“For the last eight to 10 years we’ve been having this conversation about what’s new, and for me, that has to do with making luxury relatable across generations.” It has been revealed that he has been putting together an eight-page brand Manuel defining the new ethos of Vuitton, making it more relatable to what people actually wear, however forming a luxury vision.
His first show for Louis Vuitton will take place this June at Paris Men’s Fashion week and to say that we are excited to see what creative flair he brings to the brand would be a massive understatement, keep your eyes peeled.