Virgil Abloh, who was thought of as one of the most influential fashion designers of his time, sadly passed away at the age of 41 last Sunday He was the founder of Off-White and the artistic director of men’s wear at Louis Vuitton. He was a fashion pioneer and influenced many modern fashion trends all throughout the 2010s till now. 

Virgil was one of the most significant designers of the 2010s. Without a doubt, Virgil broke down many barriers in the African American community due to the fact that he was the first black artistic designer for men’s wear at Louis Vuitton. He took his role very seriously, hoping to inspire other young artists, especially in the black community. He made it very clear that he was heavily motivated by 17 year old self, hoping that other kids like him would pursue their passions. 

He strongly influenced streetwear, and although his taste might not appeal to everyone, it is clear that he was a genius in his field of work. Abloh did not follow trends, rather he set them and led the way for future designers. Virgil thought of fashion as an outlet for creativity and this inspired the creation of Off-White, which was founded in 2012 and took off becoming wildly popular. His marketing strategies were genius and he created unique looks that were highly exclusive. He appealed to a younger demographic as well as many celebrities causing his brand to take off. Because of this, his looks were very sought after and this made him very successful. 

Virgil took style and modified it, trying to make street style more fashion forward. He really tried to incorporate dance and art and architecture into his designs. He specifically used his major in architecture from Illinois Institute of Technology to do so.  

Abloh was not without his controversies, however he used them to propel his career further. 

He was accused of stealing designs for his brand from a Norwegian brand and the logo from the Glasgow airport. He denied the accusation and stated that his designs were his that he would create in a span of ten minutes, however he would take inspiration off other peoples ideas. Because of this, there was a lot of media attention, but it only made him and his brand more talked about, helping him overall. 

Despite his controversies, Virgil Abloh is undoubtedly one of the most inspiring designers of his time and has made an impact like no other on modern streetwear. He is a role model to many and continues his impact on the fashion industry even after his passing.