Before he became a part of the fashion elite, Virgil Abloh was a Midwest teen who sold printed T-shirts to his friends and local skaters. Now, the Off-White founder is considered one of the most esteemed designers in the industry, revered mostly for his fusion of classic streetwear and high-end aesthetics. But how did this rise to the top occur? How did this Illinois native go from skater to Kanye West’s creative director, a 2015 LVMH Prize finalist, and an overall fashion gawd?
According to a GQ interview published earlier this week, it all happened by chance.
“This became my lifestyle by accident,” he told the magazine. “Trying to avoid a day job by having ideas. Thirty ideas a day.”
Abloh goes on to explain his unique approach design, specifically how he's tapping into the new cycle of streetwear, which is taking major cues from the luxury sect.
“Supreme is my Louis Vuitton. This, to me, is a Margiela of its time,” he told GQ. “Streetwear lived and it died. Now our generation is taking its ideas and mixing them with high fashion—an Hermès or a Givenchy. We’re bringing something new to the table.”
You can read the full GQ feature here, and check out the short video interview above.
