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...
$384Sale Price|20% Off
OFF WHITE black denim organza mesh panel frayed jacket XS
By Off-White, Virgil Abloh
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...
CELINE by PHOEBE PHILO charcoal grey black leather sleeve coat
By Celine, Phoebe Philo
Located in San Fransisco, CA
Charcoal grey coat with black lambskin leather sleeves designed by Phoebe Philo for Celine. Labeled a French size 40 which best fits a size S or M. Approximate measurements: shoulder...
$2,250
Size: JP M (fits most sizes)
1989 YOHJI YAMAMOTO long black RUNWAY swing coat with button detail
By Yohji Yamamoto
Located in San Fransisco, CA
Very rare oversized black wool gabardine swing coat designed by Yohji Yamamoto, exactly as shown on the 1989 runway. Cut in a loose, sculptural shape that falls away from the body, c...
Brand new Unisex Chinchilla Fur Coat 24 2XL ~no duties
By Birger Christensen
Located in Montreal, Quebec
This beautiful coat has a portrait collar, straight sleeves, German clasps for closure and too slit pockets. It a black Kasha satin lining and finished perfectly. Made in Canada w...
Vintage Brown Mouton Sheepskin Shearling Fur Jacket
Located in Sparks, NV
Stunning vintage 1960s genuine mouton fur jacket in perfect condition. So heavy and warm! Fully lined with front button closure. Hidden pockets. Fits like a modern size large. The bu...
Vivienne Westwood brown wool and velvet swing coat, fw 1990
By Vivienne Westwood
Located in London, GB
Vivienne Westwood brown wool swing coat with velvet. Oversized inverted lapels, large perspex Orb button and voluminous back panel. Portrait, Fall-Winter 1990
Antique Chinese Tricolored Blue Silk Embroidered Robe
Located in Sharon, CT
Embroidered dark blue silk Qing Dynasty semi formal robe. Floral, insects and waves silk embroidered. A 14" embroiderer at each sleeve interior includes multicolored potted plants an...
CHROME HEARTS black leather DOUBLE RIDER HERMES LINED BIKER Jacket M
By Chrome Hearts
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Chrome Hearts Double Rider biker jacket in black leather with signature sterling-silver hardware. Designed in a sharp, classic biker silhouette, it features notched lapels, three zip pockets, a buttoned flap pocket, and adjustable lace-up detailing at the sides. The front closes with a heavy chrome zipper and a buckled leather belt at the hem for a fully customizable fit. Inside, the jacket is lined in rare Hermès Cirque...
Saint Laurent leopard poncho cape
Located in Carnate, IT
Saint Laurent leopard wool poncho cape. It has no fastenings and no size. It can be worn both as a cape or as a maxi shawl. New, never worn. Length 130 cm
1976 Runway Yves Saint Laurent Ballet Russes Purple Wool Coat
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in London, GB
This runway documented aubergine-hued felt wool coat was created by Yves Saint Laurent for the brand’s beloved Fall 1976 collection. This collection was titled “Opéras - Ballets Russ...
UNWORN Emilio Pucci Lips Signature Print Bomber Outdoor Winter Jacket 42
By Emilio Pucci
Located in Switzerland, CH
Rare Bomber jacket by Emilio Pucci Beautiful lips signature print "Pucci" written discreetly all over Superwarm and light, filled with duck downs & feathers Fully lined Closes wi...
NEW F.R.S For Restless Sleepers FRS Jungle Silk Velvet Robe ANNABEL'S LONDON S
By F.R.S.
Located in Switzerland, CH
Let F.R.S For Restless Sleepers’ exceptional maximalist approach to pattern infuse your outerwear edit with a healthy dose of colour by way of this rare c...
Brown leather coat with embroideries KENZO
By Kenzo
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Brown leather coat with embroideries. Leather button and buttonhole on the front + hidden snap closure underneath. Pocket on both side. SIZE 44
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 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...