On November 28, 2021, Virgil Abloh passed away leaving an irreplaceable void in the fashion industry. 365 days have passed without him. In honor of the 1st anniversary of his death, we take a look back at his greatest milestones in fashion, music and art.

Donda Creative Director

Kanye West hired Virgil Abloh to be the creative director of his creative agency, DONDA. The agency was responsible, with various creatives, for devising West’s imagery throughout the 2010s: set design, album covers and art direction. Abloh’s most notable work at the agency was on the 2011 album “Watch the Throne”. Abloh’s work on this album went on to be nominated for a Grammy for Best Recording Package.

Ikea collaboration

Virgil Abloh worked with Swedish furniture giant Ikea on the line MARKERAD. The collaboration resulted in a wide range of everyday objects with Virgil’s signature eye-catching style. From clocks to chairs, the objects bring a touch of irony to any home. The bags from the collaboration became a coveted object in the fashion world. Fashionists around the globe sported them at the 2018 Fashion Weeks.

Louis Vuitton new era

The Abloh era at LV arrived in June 2018 with the brand’s Spring/Summer 2019 runway show at Paris Fashion Week. The rainbow runway gave way to looks that were inspired by the Wizard of Oz, one of Virgil’s obsessions.  The designer enlisted artists such as Playboi Carti, Sheck Wes, ASAP Nast and Kid Cudi to walk the runway at the show. Those who only a few years earlier might have been rejected by the big brand started to get in the game. Virgil Abloh became a loudspeaker for black creators and, succeeded in bringing the worlds of urban fashion and luxury together on an unprecedented scale.

“The Ten”

Abloh became the king of hype with “The Ten”: a series of ten sneakers created in collaboration with Nike. From the first release, the Nike x Off-White Air Jordan 1, Virgil introduced his signature design motifs to Nike’s most popular models. This union also brought back the Jordan fever. In the years that followed, Abloh designed some 50 sneakers and apparel items for Nike.

Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund

In July 2020, the designer announced the creation of the Virgil Abloh ™ “Post-Modern”  Scholarship Fund. Raising $1 million, the mission of the Virgil Abloh™ Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund is to foster equity and inclusion. By awarding scholarships to students of black ancestry or descent, the initiative’s goal is to train future industry professionals.

However, Virgil’s career goes far beyond his milestones in the most literal sense of the word. Virgil Abloh knew how to spread and expand urban culture to all spheres, creating a bridge between music, art and fashion. Today, a year after his death, it is undeniable that his legacy has left its mark not only on fashion, but on pop culture as a whole.