In 2013, after having already worked for Fendi at the Italian label’s headquarters in Rome, Virgil Abloh (1980–2021) founded the Milan-based streetwear house Off-White, which is lauded for its hip collaborations and range of sneakers and shoes, shirts, hoodies and bags that are frequently emblazoned with bold graphics and the iconography of America’s metropolitan centers.
Four years later, Abloh released the first Off-White furniture line, Grey Area. In 2018, he became the artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear division, making him one of the first Black designers to head a French luxury fashion house. By the time he celebrated his 40th birthday, the Illinois native had, seemingly, triumphed in every corner of the fashion and home design worlds.
Yet even with the Off-White and Louis Vuitton jobs, Abloh had time for a seemingly endless list of collaborations: designing shoes for Nike and Jimmy Choo, making furniture for Vitra and Ikea (“a super-dream project”), creating art with Takashi Murakami and Jenny Holzer, dressing Serena Williams and Beyoncé, co-branding with Levi’s and Evian, deejaying at Coachella and Lollapalooza.
Growing up outside Chicago, the son of Ghanaian immigrants, Abloh was neither cool nor controversial. He was, he told the New York Times, “an average sort of suburban kid, born in 1980, into watching Michael Jordan or listening to Guns N’ Roses.” He learned about design, fabrication and color from his mother, a seamstress, and his father, a paint company manager. Abloh earned a master’s degree in architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology, where his thesis was a skyscraper that leans out over the Chicago River to maximize light and views.
Abloh's process was incredibly innovative — he explained that if he was inspired by an object, he didn’t want to alter it any more than necessary. “I’m only interested in editing an idea or a concept by three percent,” he said. Not surprisingly, he flirted with the limits of permissible appropriation. His first clothing line consisted of flannel Ralph Lauren shirts on which he printed the word “Pyrex.” (Abloh’s Pyrex Vision label would later become Off-White.)
And his collaboration with Vitra included a version of Jean Prouvé’s Antony chair that has Plexiglass where Prouvé used plywood. In 2017, the Belgian designer Raf Simons told GQ that Abloh’s work was unoriginal. A month later, Abloh presented an Off-White collection cheekily titled Nothing New.
Find vintage Off-White clothing on 1stDibs.
Off-White Black Leather Sponge Mules 39
By Off-White
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Complete your footwear capsule with these mules by Off-White. Accentuated by the contrasting pink sole, this piece is finished with an open toe. Style yours with your favorite outfit...
OFF-WHITE Size 13 Black Red Logo Canvas High Top Sneakers
By Off-White
Located in San Francisco, CA
OFF-WHITE Virgil Abloh design 2013 sneakers in a black canvas featuring a high top style, striped black and white rubber sole, and red lace-up closure. Excellent Pre-Owned Condition....
OFF-WHITE x NIKE 2020 Size 12.5 Vapor Street Yellow Black Color Block Lace-Up Sneakers
By Off-White
Located in San Francisco, CA
OFF-WHITE x NIKE 2020 "Vapor Street" sneakers in a yellow fabric covered in translucent film featuring a rubber sole, printed text details, and lace-up closure. Comes with box. Shoe...
Marc Jacobs Beige leather cocktail open toe shoes with ribbon
By Marc Jacobs
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Marc Jacobs Beige leather cocktail open toe shoes Made In: Italy Color: Beige Material: Leather Marked Size: 40 Europe Heel Height: 8 cm/ 3,14 inches READY TO SHIP Orders welcome!...
Officine Creative Beige Leather Heel Sandals, Size 39
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Product details: The sandals feature sand, tan color leather, open toes and heel height is 3 inches with rear silver tone zip closure. Made in Italy.
$970Sale Price|60% Off
Size: 36.5
Gucci 90th Anniversary Ad Runway Python Skakeskin Pump Heels Sz 36.5 $2425
By Gucci
Located in Conroe, TX
Gucci Worn One Time for an Inside Fashion Show Uppers are Perfect. Minor Markings to Soles From Gucci's 90th anniversary Fall Runway show, Frida Giannini cited her influence was A...
$1,800Sale Price|20% Off
Size: 39.5
Shockingly New Tom Ford Yves Saint Laurent YSL Final Collection Heels Sz 39.5
By Yves Saint Laurent, Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Conroe, TX
Yves Saint Laurent Heels Brand New * Tom Ford Final Collection 2004 * This was his last collection for Yves Saint Laurent. He was inspired by the Chinese Collection of 1977. This C...
New Rare Tom Ford for Gucci Kate Moss Ad Runway Heels Pumps Sz 8
By Gucci, Tom Ford for Gucci
Located in Conroe, TX
Tom Ford for Gucci Rare & Collectible Brand New * Kate Moss Black Patent Corset Heels * Size 8 * Black Patent Leather The Heel is a deep, near black irride...
New Gucci Runway Suede Brocade Buckle Heels Pumps Sz 38
By Gucci
Located in Conroe, TX
Gucci Brocade Heels Brand New * Stunning in Size: 38 * Black Suede & Silver Brocade * Patent Leather Toe * Gunmetal Buckle Hardware * Quilted Soft Le...
Shockingly New Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent Final Collection Heels Sz 37
By Yves Saint Laurent, Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Conroe, TX
Yves Saint Laurent Heels Brand New Size 37 * Tom Ford Era Velvet Heels * This was his last collection for Yves Saint Laurent. He was inspired by the Chinese Collection of 1977. Th...
Chanel Vintage Cruise 1999 Two-Tone Beige Black Double Strap Peep-Toe Block Heel
By Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel
Located in London, GB
Chanel Vintage Cruise 1999 Two-Tone Beige Black Double Strap Peep-Toe Block Heel Sandals DETAILS Designer: Chanel Style: Two-tone double strap peep-toe block heel sandals Collection: Cruise 1999 (code 99C) Colour: Beige leather with black accents Heel: 3-inch curved block heel Toe: Squared peep toe Fastening: Double ankle straps with buckle closures Lining: Leather Origin: Made in Italy MEASUREMENTS Size: EU 37.5 (approx. US 7/ UK 4.5) Heel height: 7.5 cm / 3 in. Sole width: 8 cm / 3 1/8 in. Insole length: 24.7 cm / 9 3/4 in PROVENANCE & STYLE NOTES This pair belongs to Chanel’s Cruise 1999...
New Tom Ford for Gucci Dragon Ad Runway Heels Pumps Sz 37
By Tom Ford for Gucci, Gucci
Located in Conroe, TX
Gucci Tom Ford Heels Brand New & Rare * Size: 37 * Crystal Dragon at Toe * Beige GG Canvas * Purple Leather * Adjustable Chain Ankle Strap * 4" Heel * With Box & Dust...
$1,800Sale Price|20% Off
Size: 36
New Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent YSL Lotus Heels Final Collection 2004 Sz 36
By Yves Saint Laurent, Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Conroe, TX
Yves Saint Laurent Heels Brand New * Tom Ford Lotus Runway Ad Heels * This was his last collection for Yves Saint Laurent. He was inspired by the Chinese Collection of 1977... His Fi...
$1,330Sale Price|40% Off
Size: 40
New Versace S/S 2016 Gigi Hadid Medusa Runway Ad Heels Platform Pumps Sz 40
By Versace
Located in Conroe, TX
Brand New Stunning Versace Heels Runway Gigi Hadid Ad Platforms Black Gold Versace Medusa Hardware Size: 40 Heel 6" Front Platform 2" Triple Strap Rubber Sole Leather Footbed Patent ...
New Yves Saint Laurent YSL S/S 2005 Heels Pumps Sz 38.5
By Yves Saint Laurent, Stefano Pilati for Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Conroe, TX
Brand New Stefano Pilati for Yves Saint Laurent Debut Collection Spring Summer 2005 This is the Style Worn in the Stefano Pilati YSL Banned Ad * Detachable Feather Embellishment * S...
OFF-WHITE x NIKE 2020 Size 15.5 Yellow Blue Color Block Acetate Sneakers
By Off-White
Located in San Francisco, CA
OFF-WHITE x NIKE 2020 "Vapor Street" sneakers in a yellow fabric covered in translucent film featuring a rubber sole, printed text details, and lace-up closure. Shoe trees not inclu...
OFF-WHITE Size 9 Black White Stripe Leather Sneakers
By Off-White
Located in San Francisco, CA
OFF-WHITE C/O VIRGIN ABLOH "Carryover" sneakers in a black and white leather with suede trim details featuring stripped detail, rubber sole, and a lace up closure. Made in Italy. Goo...
OFF-WHITE Size 13.5 Vapor Street Black Pink Color Block Lace-Up Sneakers
By Off-White
Located in San Francisco, CA
OFF-WHITE x NIKE 2019 "Vapor Street" sneakers in a black fabric covered in translucent film featuring a black and pink rubber sole, printed text details, and lace-up closure. Comes ...
Off-White Women's 37 White Leather Zip Tie Booties 111of10
By Off-White
Located in Dix hills, NY
Made In: Italy Measurements: Length: 10" Width: 2.9" Height: 9.5" Heel Height: 3.8" OVERALL NEW CONDITION ( 10/10 or N ) Accessories: Box, Dust Bag Signs of Wear: Size: 37 EU Ex...
Off-White Women's 41 Black Leather Zip Tie Bootie 111of11
By Off-White
Located in Dix hills, NY
Made In: Italy Measurements: Length: 11" Width: 3.2" Height: 10" Heel Height: 4.2" OVERALL NEW CONDITION ( 10/10 or N ) Accessories: Box, Dust Bag Signs of Wear: Size: 41 EU Ext...
Off-White Women's 39 Black Leather Zip Tie Sandal 111of12
By Off-White
Located in Dix hills, NY
Made In: Italy Measurements: Length: 10" Width: 3.5" Height: 4.5" Heel Height: 4.2" OVERALL NEW CONDITION ( 10/10 or N ) Accessories: Box, Dust Bag Signs of Wear: Size: 39 EU Ex...
Sold
Size: (Approx. US 8) Regular (M, B)
Off-White Women's Sz 38 Black Leather Zip Tie Booties 111of13
By Off-White
Located in Dix hills, NY
Made In: Italy Measurements: Length: 10" Width: 3" Height: 9.5" Heel Height: 3.8" OVERALL NEW CONDITION ( 10/10 or N ) Accessories: Box, Dust Bag Signs of Wear: Size: 38 EU Ext...