It’s a relationship that changed the course of fashion history: Virgil Abloh as the first African American to hold the role of Men’s Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton
His appointment marked a new era of inclusivity, diversity and empowerment for luxury fashion, and the creative force that was Abloh turned the defining moment into a movement.
His death in November 2021 after a battle with a rare and aggressive form of cancer shocked the fashion, art and music worlds, but a new book is celebrating his boundary-breaking legacy at Louis Vuitton.
The first released since his passing, Louis Vuitton: Virgil Abloh is an intimate portrait of a man who was made to break the rules, both on and off the runway, and is written by his close collaborator and fashion writer, Anders Christian Madsen.
![Louis Vuitton Virgil Abloh](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/104487/louis-vuitton-virgil-abloh-book.jpg)
A Ground-breaking Figure
The book is divided into eight chapters, one dedicated to each of the Virgil-orchestrated Louis Vuitton menswear collections and shows, as well as his complete catalogue of sneakers.
Containing over 320 iconic and stunning images, Louis Vuitton: Virgil Abloh provides in-depth captions that contextualise every stage of the designer’s professional, and personal, story while at Louis Vuitton, taking readers on a journey through his rich and varied cultural reference points (think The Wizard Of Oz and 90s hi-hop.)
The major moments in Abloh’s Louis Vuitton tenure are included, like his first campaign, featuring a three-year-old girl dressed in a sample-size Yellow Brick Road sweater from the spring-summer 2019 collection.
![Louis Vuitton Virgil Abloh](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/104488/louis-vuitton-virgil-abloh-book2.jpg)
Personal reflections from some of Abloh’s closest friends and inner circle, like Naomi Campbell, Kendall Jenner, and Kid Cudi, are included with the book, as well as ‘Abloh-isms’—quotes, like “everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself—frequently spoken by the creative visionary that inspired his peers, and younger generations.
The definitive chronicle of a partnership that re-defined luxury fashion, the book is a true insight into a creative visionary, a man who made an impact across everything he touched.
Collectible Covers
The title will be released with two collectible covers, both emblematic of Virgil’s astounding creativity and mastery.
The first, a symbol of Virgil’s commitment to inspiring future generations, is taken from the Louis Vuitton spring-summer 2022 spinoff show in Miami and features an image of a young child bounding towards a striking red Louis Vuitton hot air balloon.
![Louis Vuitton Virgil Abloh book covers](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/104485/covers-louis-vuitton-virgil-abloh-book.jpg)
The second features cartoon artwork by pioneering Black creative Reggieknow, who illustrated the now cult-favourite characters for Virgil’s spring-summer 2021 show.
The book also comes in an Ultimate Collection, packaged in a collectible cover, and featuring a special insert that serves as a compendium for every single sneaker Virgil designed for Louis Vuitton, including this year’s Air Force 1s.
A fitting tribute to a culture-shifting creative, Louis Vuitton: Virgil Abloh is a true celebration of the partnership that changed the force of fashion forever.
Brought to you by Louis Vuitton.