Groundbreaking

Louis Vuitton Names Virgil Abloh as New Menswear Director

The first person of color to hold fashion house’s top role.

Louis Vuitton has named Virgil Abloh as its new artistic director of menswear, making him the first designer of color to hold such a high profile position at the fashion house. Abloh’s hiring follows the departure of Kim Jones, who now heads up menswear at Dior. Abloh’s label, Off White, has established itself about one of the most talked-about breakout brands and he previously designed Kanye West’s merchandise. Louis Vuitton Chairman and CEO Michael Burke praised Abloh’s “innate creativity and disruptive approach [which] have made him so relevant, not just in the world of fashion but in popular culture today.” Abloh said of Louis Vuitton: “I find the heritage and creative integrity of the house are key inspirations and will look to reference them both while drawing parallels to modern times.” Speaking to The New York Times on Monday, Abloh said he hoped his appointment could “show a younger generation that there is no one way anyone in this kind of position has to look."