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.
$480Sale Price|20% Off
OFF WHITE Virgil Abloh green Camo cotton white logo field jacket M
By Virgil Abloh, Off-White
Located in Hong Kong, NT
OFF WHITE Virgil Abloh green Camo cotton white logo field jacket M Reference: LAYU/A00095 Brand: Off White Designer: Virgil Abloh Material: Cotton Color: Green, White Pattern: Camouf...
$312Sale Price|20% Off
OFF WHITE VIRGIL ABLOH grey coated heavy canvas frayed edge snap panel coat XS
By Off-White
Located in Hong Kong, NT
OFF WHITE VIRGIL ABLOH grey coated heavy canvas frayed edge snap panel coat XS Reference: UIHG/A00013 Brand: Off White Designer: Virgil Abloh Model: ...
Off-White Black Chain Logo Zip Up Hoodie Size XL
By Off-White
Located in London, GB
CONDITION is Very Good. Hardly any visible wear to hoodie is evident on this used Off-White designer resale item. Please note the brand label is missing. Details Black Cotton ...
Off-White Black Logo Chain Zip Up Hoodie Size XL
By Off-White
Located in London, GB
CONDITION is Very Good. Hardly any visible wear to hoodie is evident on this used Off-White designer resale item. Size and composition labels are missing. Details Black Cotton ...
Off-White Black Caravaggio Arrow Hoodie Size M
By Off-White
Located in London, GB
CONDITION is Very good. Minimal wear to the hoodie is evident. Minimal wear to the front, back and both sleeves where cracking to the print is visible on this used Off-White designer...
$384Sale Price|20% Off
OFF WHITE black denim organza mesh panel frayed jacket XS
By Virgil Abloh, Off-White
Located in Hong Kong, NT
OFF WHITE black denim organza mesh panel frayed jacket XS Reference: LAYU/A00061 Brand: Off White Designer: Virgil Abloh Material: Denim, Polyester Color: Black Pattern: Solid Closur...
Off-White Caravaggio Marble Print Logo Hoodie Size S
By Off-White
Located in London, GB
CONDITION is Very good. Minimal wear to the hoodie is evident. Minimal wear to the front, back and both sleeves where pealing to the print is visible on this used Off-White designer ...
Yves Saint Laurent Vintage Fur Coat Circa 1980s Size 38 France
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in PARIS, FR
Beautiful vintage Yves Saint-Laurent Fur Coat from the early 2000s. In very good condition. Label and monogramed silk interior. No size mentioned. Approximately a size 38. Width: ...
Vintage Full-Length Natural Fur Coat
Located in Kingston, NY
An exceptional example of mid-20th-century American fur craftsmanship, this full-length natural fur coat from Diutsh Furs, Boston exudes timeless sophistication and luxurious warmth....
CHRISTIAN DIOR taupe FOX FUR Winter Coat Sz. F38 / M
By Christian Dior
Located in Zürich, CH
Christian Dior coat in off-white, brown, and taupe fox fur with wide collar. Two side pockets. Opens with two hooks on the front. Lined in black silk. Has been worn and is in excelle...
Stunning Snakeskin Patchwork Coat with Sheared Mink Lining and Black Fox Trim
Located in Tustin, CA
The patchwork aesthetic is this fall and winter’s most sought after look, which was proven on the runways during fashion month. Designers created plenty of patchwork pieces for their Fall collections, including Gucci, Prada, Marni, Kenzo, Alexander McQueen, and more. Now, available only on 1stdibs is this very expensive new, vintage snakeskin patchwork full length coat with luxurious sheared mink lining...
$1,397Sale Price|35% Off
Size: FR 34
$2150 New Rare Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent YSL F/W 2001 Jacket Blazer FR 34
By Yves Saint Laurent, Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Conroe, TX
Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent Fall / Winter 2001 Brand New Without Tags A Rare Find Size: FR 34 $2150 100% Virgin Wool Black Virgin Wool Jacket With Ruffle Trim Shown at the 2001 ...
$2150 New Rare Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent YSL F/W 2001 Jacket Blazer SZ 36
By Yves Saint Laurent, Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Conroe, TX
Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent Fall / Winter 2001 Brand New Without Tags A Rare Find Size: FR 36 $2150 100% Virgin Wool Black Virgin Wool Jacket With Ruffle Trim Shown at the 2001 ...
BARBARA TFANK Vintage style Black, Jade, Rose Gold Floral Maxi Coat circa 50'
By Barbara Tfank
Located in Los Angeles, CA
BARBARA TFANK Black, jade and rose Gold Embellished Floral Motif shawl collar maxi A line coat. Cinched at at the waist with a jet black button and A line silhouette. The black groun...
S/S 1989 Thierry Mugler Runway Sculptural Black Pointed Cutout Jacket
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Concord, NC
An extravagant jacket by Thierry Mugler from the Spring Summer 1989 "Les Atlantes" collection. This documented black jacket features a unique cutout pointed edge design. The jacket f...
Vivienne Westwood FW 2016 Tartan Bustier Jacket
By Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood
Located in Mentone, CA
A striking fusion of punk rebellion and baroque elegance, this Vivienne Westwood jacket embodies the designer's signature subversive aesthetic. The cropped front mimics a structured ...
CHRISTIAN DIOR long suede olive double breasted coat with fur collar 1970
By Christian Dior
Located in Genève, CH
An elegant long suede coat by Christian Dior, dating to the 1970s. Crafted in rich olive-toned suede, the design is elevated by a sumptuous fur collar that adds depth, warmth, and re...
Balenciaga Couture Wool Knit Cape, c.1970s
By Balenciaga
Located in New York, NY
Balenciaga Couture Wool Knit Cape, c.1970s 1970s Numbered "47778" Balenciaga Couture Grey Wool Knit Cape with thick self material drawstring closure...
Burberry Plaid Cashmere Shawl Wrap
By Burberry
Located in Oakland, CA
This is a Burberry wrap in a grey plaid, in 100% cashmere, luxurious and ultra soft. Made in Scotland. This is in excellent, lightly-used condition. Th...
Off-White Black Wool Logo Print Bomber Jacket Size M
By Off-White
Located in London, GB
CONDITION is Very good. Minimal wear to jacket is evident. Minimal wear to front snap buttons with minor tarnishing and discolouration is found on both sleeve cuffs, front and back b...
OFF WHITE SSENSE Exclusive black diagonal cherry embroidered hoodie XS
By Virgil Abloh, Off-White
Located in Hong Kong, NT
OFF WHITE SSENSE Exclusive black diagonal cherry embroidered hoodie XS Reference: AAWC/A01539 Brand: Off White Designer: Virgil Abloh Model: Black Diagonal Cherry Hoodie Collection: ...
OFF WHITE Virgil Abloh green Camo cotton white logo field jacket M
By Off-White
Located in Hong Kong, NT
OFF WHITE Virgil Abloh green Camo cotton white logo field jacket M Reference: LAYU/A00060 Brand: Off White Designer: Virgil Abloh Material: Cotton Color: Green, White Pattern: Camouf...
OFF WHITE C/O VIRGIL ABLOH black rose floral embroidery logo bomber jacket XS
By Off-White
Located in Hong Kong, NT
OFF WHITE C/O VIRGIL ABLOH black rose floral embroidery logo bomber jacket XS Reference: KNLM/A00058 Brand: Off White Designer: Virgil Abloh Material: Nylon Color: Black, Red Pattern...
OFF WHITE C/O VIRGIL ABLOH black rose floral embroidery logo bomber jacket XS
By Off-White, Virgil Abloh
Located in Hong Kong, NT
OFF WHITE C/O VIRGIL ABLOH black rose floral embroidery logo bomber jacket XS Reference: KNLM/A00058 Brand: Off White Designer: Virgil Abloh Material: Nylon Color: Black, Red Pattern...
Off-White Cobalt Blue Neoprene Lined Velvet Parka Size S
By Off-White
Located in London, GB
CONDITION is Very Good. Hardly any visible wear to the coat is evident on this used Off-White designer resale item. Details Cobalt blue Velvet Parka coat Long le...
Off-White Black Arch Shape Hoodie Size XL
By Off-White
Located in London, GB
CONDITION is Very good. Hardly any visible wear to top is evident on this used Off-White designer resale item. Details Black Cotton Hoodie Oversized fit Green...
OFF WHITE C/O VIRGIL ABLOH black rose floral embroidery logo bomber jacket XS
By Off-White
Located in Hong Kong, NT
OFF WHITE C/O VIRGIL ABLOH black rose floral embroidery logo bomber jacket XS Brand: Off White Designer: Virgil Abloh Material: Nylon Color: Black Pattern: Floral Closure: Zip Extra Detail: Large hoop double zip front closure. Graphic stripe...