Image via Complex Original
If you're a young person looking to get into the creative industries, any and all advice is advice you need to listen to, but some people are worth paying that little bit more attention to. One of those people is Virgil Abloh. Best known for his work as creative director for Kanye West, as well as his fashion labels Off-White and its predecessor Pyrex, Abloh is a man of many talents, ideas, and passions, who isn't afraid to use his platform to try and inspire the youth to better his success.
With that goal in mind, Abloh took the chance to hold a workshop in Selfridges' Work It space. But instead of simply leading it himself, he invited some of the young Londoners inspiring him. The panel included Sam Ross, assistant to Abloh and founder of A-COLD-WALL*, Ryan Hawaii, a young artist and art dealer who is merging fashion and art within his work, the team behind Ejder, an online boutique that uses its online space and physical pop-ups to promote young labels, plus an appearance from Tremaine Emory and photographer MRWIZE.
The workshop wasn't just about being able to see and meet Abloh and co., it was about young people getting access to practical knowledge and inspiration and ideas that they could take home and use today. Ways in which they could further their work, develop their talents, and learn about their craft. Most importantly, it was about reminding young people that while Abloh is in that perceived position of power, he's committed to using that position to shine a spotlight on the young people inspiring him.
Don't worry if you couldn't make it down though, because we've got you. Scroll for the run-down of every one of Virgil Abloh's Crucial Tips for Becoming Successful in the Fashion and Art Industries.
Virgil loves London and the UK, and loves what's going on right here, right now.
If you follow Virgil on Instagram or Twitter, you'll know that he spends a fair amount of time in the UK. It's evident in his choice to add some of the young leaders of the UK's new wave to this workshop that he has a lot of respect for what's currently going on here. Referring to London as "feeling like New York used to feel," Abloh explains that within the streetwear culture and movement, Japan has had its moment, New York has had its moment, L.A. has had its moment, and that he feels like it's now London's moment to take center stage, push the culture forward through the youth.
The timing of London's moment is something Virgil talked about too; streetwear has lived and died more than once or twice, and its latest iteration is much more wide-reaching, all encompassing than it has been before, especially in the UK. As its aesthetics are being picked up on by high-fashion, it's more important than ever for the young people living, breathing, and creating the culture to protect it and bulletproof it to prevent the movement burning out and losing itself.
"The youth will always win."
Throughout the workshop, Virgil took as many opportunities as possible to remind the audience that his position of power is just a perceived line. The job of the youth is to surpass him, to carry the torch; his job is to open the door. Echoing a similar sentiment, Sam Ross of A-COLD-WALL* added that the point of the youth is that it's radical, and it's everywhere. Take every opportunity you can create for yourself rather than sitting back and waiting for someone to give it to you; put yourself where you want to be.
Social media is a tool for young people to get themselves out there and put themselves in better positions; Sam came to the attention of Virgil via Instagram. His 'gram was so well art directed that it read like a resumé website, and that's something young people are so geared towards. Social media is the future, and so are the kids, so if you're not making the most of it, it's time you started to.
Education isn't the only way to get into creative industries, but it can be helpful
Education is a completely different thing for everybody, especially when it comes to creative disciplines. Some people thrive, others find it stifling. Where the Ejder boys mentioned using education to confirm their real passions lay elsewhere, Sam Ross and Abloh were both advocates of education, using it to find a way to do what you want to do.
When Abloh studied architecture and engineering, he spent 50 percent of his time working and the other 50 percent throwing parties and putting on club nights—something that he felt passionate about. That taught him how to multitask, which means he can now work on six projects at a time, giving each the same amount of his attention.
Abloh also pressed the point that everything is based in the past: "There are rules to this shit." It's a common but false feeling that what you're doing has never existed before; everything that's aesthetic is governed by art, and there are principles and movements within art that need to be respected. Finding the buried references is massively important in order to respect the work you're doing. You have to be knowledgeable to really represent and uphold the culture when you find yourself in a higher position.
Passion and sacrifice are vital to success.
Passion is key if you're looking to get into doing something, anything for the rest of your life. Whether it's being a designer, an artist, a musician, or a chef. Without passion, you just won't put the right level of work and effort into it. Focusing on money or likes or follows just can't be what you're chasing, because this wave might not last forever. You've got to believe in what you're doing and create your own current. It's supposed be a lifestyle, not something you have to force yourself to do.
People who find success don't necessarily always do it with unique concepts, but their passion helps people buy into and believe in what they're doing. And when you're working towards your goals, be mindful of making the sacrifices necessary to get there. You might really want those new Js, but are they worth not having that couple of hundred dollars to invest into your ideas? If you're not willing to make the sacrifices you can in order to make your dreams a reality, it will never happen for you.
The future is collaboration.
Collaboration is an amazing thing, especially when it comes from two different mediums. Think Skepta and Nasir Mazhar, and Larry Clark and Supreme. Bringing a different perspective into your world and incorporating that into your work can help you think in a different way, and expand your working repertoire to include something that's totally new and very future. Take what you're doing and promote it with this other discipline, beware of being put in a box, because the boxes will keep you from finding your own voice.
One kid in the audience asked about spoken word, and immediately Ryan Hawaii jumped on the idea, wanting to incorporate some of Sam Ross' inspiration into an art installation that would be accompanied by a spoken word poem. The excitement in the room was palpable. As Virgil noted, these are the kinds of things we want to read about.
Fashion isn't as segregated anymore, people no longer feel the primal urge to go it alone, and that's an amazing thing.
Above else, stay true to yourself.
In order to love what you do and find success, your work has to be authentic and, more importantly, you need to be real. People like Virgil are there to serve only as inspiration.
Focus on your happiness, not following trends or chasing money; being true to who you are is the most important thing you can do. There is no clear line to success, the map is inside you, you need to create your own lane and keep to it. Developing a signature style and applying that to everything you do is essential to making it authentic. As soon as you're not feeling it, you've got to cut it loose because it won't look good if you're not putting parts of yourself into it.