It’s a relationship that changed the course of fashion history: Virgil Abloh as the first African American to hold the role of Men’s Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton
His appointment marked a new era of inclusivity, diversity and empowerment for luxury fashion, and the creative force that was Abloh turned the defining moment into a movement.
His death in November 2021 after a battle with a rare and aggressive form of cancer shocked the fashion, art and music worlds, but a new book is celebrating his boundary-breaking legacy at Louis Vuitton.
The first released since his passing, Louis Vuitton: Virgil Abloh is an intimate portrait of a man who was made to break the rules, both on and off the runway, and is written by his close collaborator and fashion writer, Anders Christian Madsen.
A Ground-breaking Figure
The book is divided into eight chapters, one dedicated to each of the Virgil-orchestrated Louis Vuitton menswear collections and shows, as well as his complete catalogue of sneakers.
Containing over 320 iconic and stunning images, Louis Vuitton: Virgil Abloh provides in-depth captions that contextualise every stage of the designer’s professional, and personal, story while at Louis Vuitton, taking readers on a journey through his rich and varied cultural reference points (think The Wizard Of Oz and 90s hi-hop.)
The major moments in Abloh’s Louis Vuitton tenure are included, like his first campaign, featuring a three-year-old girl dressed in a sample-size Yellow Brick Road sweater from the spring-summer 2019 collection.
Personal reflections from some of Abloh’s closest friends and inner circle, like Naomi Campbell, Kendall Jenner, and Kid Cudi, are included with the book, as well as ‘Abloh-isms’—quotes, like “everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself—frequently spoken by the creative visionary that inspired his peers, and younger generations.
The definitive chronicle of a partnership that re-defined luxury fashion, the book is a true insight into a creative visionary, a man who made an impact across everything he touched.
Collectible Covers
The title will be released with two collectible covers, both emblematic of Virgil’s astounding creativity and mastery.
The first, a symbol of Virgil’s commitment to inspiring future generations, is taken from the Louis Vuitton spring-summer 2022 spinoff show in Miami and features an image of a young child bounding towards a striking red Louis Vuitton hot air balloon.
The second features cartoon artwork by pioneering Black creative Reggieknow, who illustrated the now cult-favourite characters for Virgil’s spring-summer 2021 show.
The book also comes in an Ultimate Collection, packaged in a collectible cover, and featuring a special insert that serves as a compendium for every single sneaker Virgil designed for Louis Vuitton, including this year’s Air Force 1s.
A fitting tribute to a culture-shifting creative, Louis Vuitton: Virgil Abloh is a true celebration of the partnership that changed the force of fashion forever.
Brought to you by Louis Vuitton.
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