Virgil Abloh became artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s men’s line in 2018.
Louis Vuitton announced Abloh’s appointment on March 25, 2018, placing him in charge of the menswear ready-to-wear collection. The role made him the first person of African descent to lead the house’s menswear line and one of the few Black designers directing a major French fashion label at the time.
Abloh brought experience from architecture, music, and streetwear. He had founded Off-White in 2013 after earlier work on Pyrex Vision and had collaborated closely with Kanye West. His appointment symbolized the growing influence of streetwear and youth culture within luxury fashion.
He presented his first Louis Vuitton men’s collection in Paris in June 2018. The show featured prominent musicians and performers, including Kid Cudi and Playboi Carti, and used vivid color and tailored streetwear to reinterpret Vuitton’s heritage. Abloh remained in the role until his death in November 2021; Pharrell Williams was later appointed Louis Vuitton’s men’s creative director in 2023.