9 Of Virgil Abloh’s Most Iconic Pieces

The American designer, who died of cancer at the age of 41, was a visionary artist with a prolific mind and an artistic soul. A look back at the key pieces that have marked his career, from Off-White to Louis Vuitton.

Virgil Abloh was not only a visionary fashion designer, his work in arts and design also broke boundaries. Besides being the artistic director for Louis Vuitton menswear and founder of the Off-White label, the American was also a DJ, architect, engineer and furniture designer. Versatile and unstoppable, he marked his career with limitless collaborations and diversions. A habit created after meeting Kanye West at the age of 22 and working as the rapper's artistic director for almost fourteen years.

In 2011, his name stepped out of the shadows with designing the collaborative Watch the Throne album by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West. An artwork that earned him a 2012 Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package. Incredibly bling-bling, it was imagined as a jewel (and designed by the Italian designer Riccardo Tisci) representing the two iconic artists. It was then when Virgil Abloh began to build this bridge between streetwear culture and the world of luxury. Through his lens, items and clothes acquired multiple identities navigating between art, philosophy, music and politics.

"Sold Out" Collaborations 

As soon as he gained a reputation for the ready-to-wear line for men and women of his label Off-White, Virgil Abloh decides to associate it with other names (not necessarily in fashion) by multiplying the collaborations with Moncler, Nike, Umbro, the Ssense e-shop, Evian, Levi's Made & Crafted ... All "sold out" and followed by numerous underlying ironic messages.

Ikea, in 2019, was no exception. When he teamed up with the Swedish brand, it was to transform everyday objects and furniture into unexpected pieces, and introduce, in the process, a young generation of consumers to the culture of design. In 2018, his appointment as artistic director of the Louis Vuitton menswear caused a stir. He became one of the first black designers to take the helm of a leading global luxury brand. And with that, he broadly deployed his vision, joining between streetwear and luxury.

Here are 9 of Virgil Abloh’s most iconic works

In 2011, the metal cover designed for Kanye West and Jay-Z's Watch the Throne album was later nominated to a Grammy for best record cover.

In 2012, he launched his brand Pyrex Vision. He designed plaid shirts from old Ralph Lauren stocks, stamped with the Pyrex logo and the number 23, in reference to Michael Jordan, his favorite basketball player.

Released in 2013 under the Off-White label, this white hoodie with graphic lines sets the codes of the brand: a combination of streetwear and high-end ready-to-wear.

Released in 2017, the Off-White x Air Jordan 1 collaboration is still igniting the basketball market.

At the helm of Louis Vuitton menswear, he reinterpreted the Keepall, the house's classic travel bag in a plastic version and in an ultra-limited edition.

In 2019, the American designer teamed up with Ikea. He offered a reinterpretation of the iconic blue bag of the Swedish brand by giving it a craft version and the ironic "sculpture" term.

In 2019, Virgil Abloh revisited the Jean Prouvé chair for Vitra showcasing his vision in interior design for the year 2035.

In 2018, the American imagined water bottles’ design in collaboration with Evian.

DJ set designed in collaboration with Pioneer DJ in 2019.