Virgil Abloh’s footprint beyond fashion

Virgil’s passing has left a huge void in the industry that no one will undoubtedly be able to fill. After a short-lived but unprecedented career, Virgil Abloh leaves a profound footprint on the world beyond fashion.

The designer has not only changed the way we dress, he has changed the paradigm of the industry. He has managed to change the behaviors of the fashion and luxury business forever. From founding Off-White to heading the creative direction of Louis Vuitton, his work has been defined by the leitmotif of childhood, maturation, growth and ethics in the context of black communities and the future of new generations.

If Virgil was able to deconstruct the pillars of the system to turn them upside down, it was largely due to his great ability to see the industry with perspective. His childlike gaze was not only fighting for those in his community, but for millennial culture around the globe. He often said, “Everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself”. He believed deeply in the power of art to inspire future generations. Abloh was designing much more than products, he was designing a better future for those of us still in the industry.

Virgil managed to unite streetwear with the big brands. When he broke down the boundaries between luxury and streetwear, all brands began to follow this pattern; we were witnessing the birth of a new order. He used his art to support different social causes, transforming the vision of the industry and marking an unprecedented before and after.

Beyond his undeniable aesthetic impact on the industry, Virgil Abloh assured us that we, like him, can also make it. Today more than ever, his quote “You can do it too” resonates in our minds as a mantra.