When high fashion and streetwear collaborates, it could be a hit or miss – Supreme with LV most recently (and rumors about Virgil’s LV/Versace collabs). The major fashion houses and brands are trying to figure out the marketplace at the same time some major traditional retail stores are experiencing a decline in sales. Nike is eliminating 745 jobs in Oregon by the end of September stated, “in June 2017, we announced that we would be shifting to the Consumer Direct Offense, a new company alignment that allows Nike to better serve the consumer personally, at scale.” The company declined to offer additional details, other than to say it is ‘putting decision-making closer to the customer so we can move at the speed of the marketplace.’
This is where things get interesting. Off-White founder Virgil Abloh, and Kanye West collaborator since 2003 have a special creative friendship. Virgil considers Kanye as, ‘our generation’s Yves Saint Laurent, combined with Warhol and Basquiat.’ I have to agree because of Kanye’s musical genius and fashion sense – I met Kanye many years ago on something music related the Def Jam offices, but he knew and was more interested in the designer kicks I was wearing that were not known or yet popular in the states. Looking back, I can see now how Virgil and Kanye were a natural connect.
Virgil collaborates, but more importantly, is creating culture. As part of his NIKE “Off-Campus” launch, Virgil hosted a workshop for creators at the New York Stock Exchange on how to customize your AF1s.
“back to school” 23 Wall Street
33k Likes, 257 Comments – @virgilabloh on Instagram: “”back to school” 23 Wall Street”
Bringing the creators to Wall Street is the new business model that may just work.
Nike is just one of many collaboration Abloh has planned. He has the vision to design everything from public spaces to hotels.
INSTA_”SNACKS” >>>> CREATING CULTURE & INSPIRATION
@off____white
529 Likes, 6 Comments – Fabien Montique (@fabienmontique) on Instagram: “@off____white”
Cut and sewed my own custom Nike tee Virgil Abloh x Nike “OFF CAMPUS” NYC Workshop thanks dad @virgilabloh
1,141 Likes, 36 Comments – King Bell (@siobhanbell) on Instagram: “Cut and sewed my own custom Nike tee Virgil Abloh x Nike “OFF CAMPUS” NYC Workshop thanks dad…”
Many snacks at @vfiles 🍟 #nyfw
1,340 Likes, 14 Comments – King Bell (@siobhanbell) on Instagram: “Many snacks at @vfiles 🍟 #nyfw”
Please refer to me as “Air Lens”. Lol. Thanks @virgilabloh !! —————————————————–#VirgilAbloh #OffWhite #Nike #Jordan
3,934 Likes, 103 Comments – Lenny S. (@kodaklens) on Instagram: “Please refer to me as “Air Lens”. Lol. Thanks @virgilabloh !!…”
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Off-White's Virgil Abloh takes on design
At Design Miami, Virgil Abloh, Kanye West's creative director, debuted what he calls "a new vocabulary" for furniture design.
