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 Off-White, Virgil Abloh
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...
$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...
1992 AZZEDINE ALAIA black chenille runway robe coat
By Azzedine Alaïa
Located in San Fransisco, CA
Azzedine Alaïa black chenille robe coat, runway 1992 An exceptionally rare piece from Alaïa’s 1992 collection, this coat is made from a rich, jet-black chenille with a soft, almost ...
$1,283
Size: 130 cm x 130 cm, 35 cm fringes
An Art Deco shawl embroidered with flowers on black tulle, circa 1920
Located in Toulon, FR
Circa 1920. Europe Beautiful Art Deco shawl in densely embroidered black cotton tulle, with a beautiful transparency effect. Its shape and decoration are similar to Manila shawls fro...
Geoffrey Beene Black Satin Trimmed Open Work Coat ex Iris Apfel Collection
By Geoffrey Beene
Located in New Hope, PA
This stunning coat designed by Geoffrey Beene using black satin and slivers of braided silk is just amazing. I was thrilled to sell it to Iris Apfel at The Palm Beach show in the ear...
1990's MOSCHINO Cheap and Chic black wool military coat
By Moschino Cheap and Chic, Moschino
Located in San Fransisco, CA
1990’s Moschino Cheap and Chic black light to medium weight wool military-style coat with a long, slightly A-line shape and oversized brass-tone buttons down the front and at back. C...
1980's Unique Black Leather Embroidered Jacket
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Incredible vintage design short jacket that has been handmade and embellished with exotic pieces rare and collectible piece We offer more vintage unique items, view our frontstore ...
Giorgio Armani Pre-Fall 2017 Silk Wool Striped Coat with Tags
By Giorgio Armani
Located in Boca Raton, FL
From Giorgio Armani’s Pre-Fall 2017 collection, this coat is an extraordinary example of the designer’s architectural elegance. Tailored in a luxurious silk and wool blend with a sub...
$2,100
Size: No size tag, fits like a FR 42
YVES SAINT LAURENT 80's Patchwork leather coat with suede trims
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Milano, MILANO
Patchwork leather coat with suede trims from the 80's by Yves Saint Laurent Asymmetrical buttons closure Two pockets with string and tassels Lightweight padded collar and hems Fully...
Fall 1996 Chanel Brown Wool Coat Dress
By Chanel
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Chanel Fall 1996 brown wool crepe coat dress featuring a multiple gold hook detail at the front. The coat features a petite notched collar and seams ...
PRADA FW 07 Single breasted zippered coat with needle punched fabric
By Prada
Located in Milano, MILANO
Fall Winter 2007 single breasted zippered coat with needle punched fabric by Prada Raglan cut sleeve Double action zip on the front Fully lined 100% virgin wool
Balenciaga Eisa Double Breasted Coat, Collection of Actress Susan Hayward
By Balenciaga, Eisa
Located in New York, NY
Eisa Balenciaga Haute Couture coat. Double breasted black textured wool twill designed by Cristobal Balenciaga for Eisa dating to the early 1960's. The semi fitted cut coat with buttons of black bakelite resin is fully lined in black silk. Inset pockets at front hips. Raglan cut sleeves. Deep pleats below hips at back hem. Purchased at Christies, New York. Estate of American actress Susan Hayward...
1950s Cari Colette Vintage New Look Brown Wool Tailored Jacket
Located in Sparks, NV
Chic 1950s brown wool jacket with sleek tailoring by Cari Colette. Fully lined with front button closure. Side hidden pockets. Structured shoulder pads are sewn in underneath the lin...
Long Brown Hooded Swakara Coat Reversible
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Reversible vintage swakara Persian lamb coat with attached hood Rare to find We offer more exclusive coats, view our frontstore Details: Reversible coat and light weight one side ...
OFF WHITE SSENSE Exclusive black diagonal cherry embroidered hoodie XS
By Off-White, Virgil Abloh
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 Virgil Abloh, 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 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 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...