OFF WHITE

The Off-White adventure began in 2013. The guiding principle of Virgil Abloh’s brand, following on from Pyrex, was to reboot certain pieces by adding a unique touch. Play with the codes and rethinking the tradition of tailoring as we know it, deconstructing to better reconstruct pieces that were previously thought to be untouchable. The brand took off quickly and opened a design studio in Italy. In 2015, it was a finalist in the prestigious LVMH Prize for young fashion designers.

Virgil Abloh was born in Chicago in 1980 and started out as a DJ and stylist. He studied engineering and has a degree in architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology but made his first foray into fashion in 2009 with the RSVP Gallery concept-store, before taking over as artistic director of the Kanye West’s Donda brand. In 2012, he launched the ground-breaking streetwear brand Pyrex, before founding Off-White in 2013. The brand was an immediate hit, and five years later in March 2018, Virgil Abloh was hired as artistic director for menswear at Louis Vuitton.

There are few designers out there that can create a buzz quite like Virgil Abloh, the founder of Off-White. For Spring-Summer 2018, the American designer paid homage to Princess Diana in a show that took place only weeks after the 20^th anniversary of her death. It showcased precious jewellery, not unlike some pieces worn by the Princess of Wales herself, as well as faithful reproductions of some of her accessories.

He totally pushes the envelope with this handbag in the shape of a gift inspired by a photo of Princess Diana carrying one.

Nevertheless, Virgil Abloh hasn’t forgotten the pieces that made his brand such a rapid success. His “For Walking” shoes and “For Display Only” bags are both showstoppers, as is the iconic, instantly recognisable yellow belt. Spring promises to be colourful, will you?