The fashion crowd is still mourning the loss of Virgil Abloh, the great designer known for redefining the meaning of streetwear in luxury fashion in his role as artistic director of menswear at Louis Vuitton and his independent label, Off-White. Prior to his premature death after battling a rare form of cancer for two years, Abloh was putting the final touches on his menswear runway show scheduled for last night during the opening night of Miami Art Basel.
Entitled “Virgil Was Here,” the Spring-Summer 2022 show went on as schedule “per Virgil’s wishes,” as a celebration of his tremendous legacy revealed in a statement by chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton, Michael Burke, and Abloh’s family. Many times Virgil would mention, “everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself.” As the first black artistic director at Louis Vuitton and first-generation Ghanaian-American, Abloh broke the traditional glass ceiling, and the night celebrated just that.
As we are still putting ourselves together after the unfathomable loss, emotions ran high in the rows (and screens) leading up to the show. Abloh’s star-studded crew included Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Bella Hadid, Ricky Martin, DJ Khaled, Luka Sabbat, Michèle Lamy, and Givenchy creative director Matthew Williams filled the front row. Other friends, including Kid Cudi, Quavo, and Offset, paid homage to the late designer by walking the runway in his final designs.
As Abloh’s last collection for the heritage house made its way down the runway, those watching couldn’t help but feel a sense of uplifting joy (something Abloh is noted for contributing whenever around). Guest bobbed their heads and tapped their feet to the rhythm of the background music while gazing in complete awe as each look followed the next–all of course with a few tears shed, both of joy and sadness.
The collection itself was quintessential Virgil’s Vuitton, streetwear and luxury fashion harmonized in vibrant, bold hues. References of ombre logomania and rainbows that we come to love from the designer filtered through monogrammed motif jackets, clean-cut suiting finished with belts, and desirable outerwear. Abloh’s DNA is poured into his last collection through and through, which will also indeed set a precedent and define the future of the luxury Parisian maison.
The fashion world will undoubtedly miss Abloh’s immeasurable energy and innovative ideas. Still, his spirit and legacy lives on within his designs, friends, team, and fans–“Virgil Was Here,” and we will never forget what he’s brought to fashion and the world.
