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Tag: Virgil Abloh

  • Why are you all silent? US-based designer fumes over shut down of Virgil Abloh’s skatepark in Accra

    Why are you all silent? US-based designer fumes over shut down of Virgil Abloh’s skatepark in Accra

    Freedom Skatepark, Ghana’s inaugural skatepark, has reportedly been compelled to shut down merely two years after its inauguration.

    According to a complex.com report, the skatepark, owned by the late Ghanaian-American fashion designer and entrepreneur Virgil Abloh, faced closure due to issues with “outside contractors.”

    The information was gleaned from a social media post shared by Wole Olosunde, a designer and native New Yorker, who revealed that Abloh’s Freedom Skate Park had been closed off by a contractor who constructed a cement wall to bar skaters from access.

    “Finally got to visit FREEDOM, the skate park Virgil Abloh built in Accra, Ghana. One of his last projects before he passed. I left heartbroken and confused. Cause why tf is no one talking about or fighting for this?” he wrote on Instagram.

    Wole Olosunde, a designer based in New York, expressed bewilderment at the destruction of the park, which had become a haven for numerous Ghanaian skaters.

    He claimed that approximately a year ago, a business owner took it upon themselves to “erect a cement wall and pour sand through the park” with the intention of preventing all skaters from accessing it.

    “It has been like this for almost a full year, leaving these kids with nowhere to skate. To the point they built their own temporary skate park to be able to keep spreading the love of skating and building community.”


    Wole Olosunde questioned the silence of authorities and the public regarding the closure of the park, which had been constructed with significant resources by the late Virgil Abloh.

    Earlier reports in May 2023 indicated that the park, visited by Vice President Kamala Harris during her state visit to Ghana in March 2023, had been indefinitely closed.

    A tweet from the verified page BlacVolta on Twitter suggested that the closure was a result of a land dispute.

    “Accra’s first community-built skateboard park, Freedom Skatepark, has been closed indefinitely due to a land dispute that has put the park’s future in jeopardy.

    “The dispute arose after a party claimed ownership of the land where the skatepark is located and allegedly started building a wall to block access to the site without notice or explanation,” the tweet said.

    The tweet added that the owner of the park had to take to social media to appeal for help on how to keep his park safe from the intrusion from people.

    “The owner of Freedom Skatepark, @Rooky_Rider, took to Instagram to call for help from the community, asking for contacts to help save the skatepark, as well as ratings on Google and donations to pay for legal fees.

    “The closure of the park has caused concern among skateboarders and the local community, who see the park as an important space for youth engagement and healthy activity,” it added.

    Another tweet, attributed to Rightify Ghana, shared a news clip from TV3 reporting that the venue had been targeted by an anti-LGBTQ+ group.

    The group alleged that the place was “disguised in the name of skating” but was functioning as a headquarters for the gay community in Ghana.

    The tweet further mentioned that the anti-gay group, identified as the Islamic Youth for Peace, had urged the police to intervene at the Shiashie venue.

  • Davido buys 2023 Mercedes

    Davido buys 2023 Mercedes

    A new car has been added to the fleet of opulent vehicles driven by Nigerian musician David Adeleke, better known as Davido.

    The musician just copped himself one of the rare 150 units of the 2023 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class 680 designed by Virgil Abloh.

    He becomes the first African artist to own one joining the likes of Alicia Keys and Skepta.

    The limited edition vehicle is selling at a starting price of $530,000 to $600,000.

    Davido on Sunday night shut down Lagos with his highly anticipated Timeless concert at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), and decided to climax it with the new toy.

    David has a very interesting garage filled with about 13 expensive cars that everyone will love to own someday.

    They include a 2022 Mercedes Benz Maybach SUV, 2021 Lamborghini Aventador, 2021 Rolls Royce Cullinan, Lamborghini Huracan, 2018 Bentley Bentyga, Range Rover, 2017 Range Rover Sports, Mercedes Benz Gla Class 450, Porsche 911 Carerra, Mercedes Benz G Wagon, Lamborghini Urus, Audi R8 Coupe and Chevrolet Camaro.

    Off-White founder and Louis Vuitton’s late artistic director of menswear, Virgil Abloh collaborated with Mercedes on the project before his death in November, 2021.

    Two concept cars – a sedan and off roader – which were immovable works of art were unveiled at the time. However, Mercedes in 2022 unveiled that it would actually produce a drivable and street-legal Abloh-designed Maybach.

    The German über-brand eventually created a purchasable Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, which is limited to a run of just 150 units.

  • Pharrell Williams succeeds Virgil Abloh as Louis Vuitton men’s Creative Director

    Pharrell Williams succeeds Virgil Abloh as Louis Vuitton men’s Creative Director

    The Grammy-winning producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter Pharrell Williams has been appointed as the new creative director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear line.

    Williams was referred to as “a visionary whose creative realms span from music to art to fashion” by the label.

    High-profile Ghanaian designer Virgil Abloh, who passed away in 2021, previously served in the Louis Vuitton position as Creative Director.

    In June 2023, Pharrell’s new collection will be revealed during the Men’s Fashion Week in Paris. In addition, he helped start the streetwear company Billionaire Boys Club with Japanese designer Nigo in 2003.

    Pietro Beccari, chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton, stated in a statement, “I am pleased to welcome Pharrell back home, after our collaborations in 2004 and 2008 for Louis Vuitton, as our new Men’s Creative Director.”

    With little doubt, Mr. Beccari continued, “His creative vision beyond fashion will take Louis Vuitton towards a new and extremely exciting chapter.”

    One of the top international fashion houses is Louis Vuitton. It is a component of the LVMH luxury goods business, which Bernard Arnault, the richest man on earth, owns.

    Virgil Abloh: Ghanaian Designer For Louis Vuitton, Off-White Dies Of Cancer

    Previously, YEN.com.gh wrote about Virgil Abloh, a highly esteemed Ghanaian fashion designer who has passed away.

    Abloh, who developed Off-White and worked for Louis Vuitton, died after a battle with cancer. A message on Louis Vuitton’s official Twitter account shared the news of Abloh’s passing.

    The letter claims that Abloh had been silently battling cancer for years before passing away on November 28, 2021.

  • Louis Vuitton: Pharrell Williams to lead men’s designs

    Louis Vuitton: Pharrell Williams to lead men’s designs

    The Grammy-winning producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter Pharrell Williams has been appointed as the new creative director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear line.

    Williams was referred to as “a visionary whose creative universes expand from music to art to fashion” by the label.

    In addition, he helped found the streetwear company Billionaire Boys Club.

    High-profile designer Virgil Abloh, who passed away in 2021, previously served in the Louis Vuitton position.

    Williams’ first collection for the label will be shown at Men’s Fashion Week in Paris in June.

    “I am glad to welcome Pharrell back home, after our collaborations in 2004 and 2008 for Louis Vuitton, as our new Men’s Creative Director,” Louis Vuitton chairman and chief executive Pietro Beccari said in a statement.

    “His creative vision beyond fashion will undoubtedly lead Louis Vuitton towards a new and very exciting chapter,” Mr Beccari added.

    Louis Vuitton is one of the world’s leading international fashion houses. It is part of the luxury goods group LVMH, which is owned by the world’s richest person Bernard Arnault.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

    Williams has won 13 Grammy Awards and was a judge on popular television talent competition The Voice.

    He received an Oscar nomination for the song Happy which was part of the soundtrack of the animated film Despicable Me 2.

    Williams co-founded the streetwear label Billionaire Boys Club with Japanese designer Nigo in 2003.

    He has collaborated with sportswear giant Adidas and luxury brands Moncler and Chanel, and worked with Louis Vuitton designer Marc Jacobs to design eyewear for the label.

    Williams was criticised last year when he attended a fashion show wearing a pair of diamond-studded Tiffany sunglasses.

    Social media users highlighted similarities between the design and a pair of spectacles dating from India’s Mughal era.

    Williams’ predecessor at Louis Vuitton, Virgil Abloh, was the founder of the Off-White fashion brand.

    Known for fusing elements of streetwear with high fashion designs, he died from cancer in November 2021 at the age of 41.

    His posthumous final menswear show was built around an elaborate “Dreamhouse” concept with angels, breakdancing models, and a disregard for gender in the designs.

  • A year on: How the world received news of Virgil Abloh’s death

    Fashion designer, Virgil Abloh born September 30, 1980, passed away on November 28, 2021, after privately battling cancer at the age of 41.

    His death hit hard families, fashion enthusiasts, fans and top celebrities who encountered him. Tons of tributes were poured out from the likes of Drake, Naomi Campbell, Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams to the late US-based Ghanaian designer who created Off-White.

    Fashion brands including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Nike, mourned and shared testimonies of Abloh’s contribution to the sector.

    Virgil held the record as the first Black artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection.

    News of his death was announced on his official Instagram page. It left many hearts broken especially Ghanaians who prided in his international achievement.

    Parts of the post read: “We are devastated to announce the passing of our beloved Virgil Abloh, a fiercely devoted father, husband, son, brother, and friend. He is survived by his loving wife Shannon Abloh, his children Lowe Abloh and Grey Abloh, his sister Edwina Abloh, his parents Nee and Eunice Abloh, and numerous dear friends and colleagues.

    “For over two years, Virgil valiantly battled a rare, aggressive form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma. He chose to endure his battle privately since his diagnosis in 2019, undergoing numerous challenging treatments, all while helming several significant institutions that span fashion, art, and culture.”

    The late Virgil was born to Ghanaian immigrant parents, Nee Abloh and Eunice Abloh in Rockford, Illinois.

    Check out the posts below:

     

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    A post shared by @virgilabloh

  • Nike to honor Virgil Abloh at ‘Codes’ exhibition in Miami

    At Art Basel this year, Nike will host “Virgil Abloh: The Codes c/o Architecture,” a four-day experience celebrating the late designer’s creative legacy. The program will run from Dec. 1 to 4 at the Rubell Museum in Miami and feature discussions, exhibitions, and workshops around Abloh’s work.

    Nike says the intent of the program is to explore Abloh’s “Codes,” a set of distinctly Abloh design principles that can be applied to any medium. These principles will serve as guidelines for future Nike projects from Architecture, a team that Abloh assembled to execute his collaborations with the sportswear brand.

    The Miami event is being held in collaboration with VA Securities, the creative corporation that is helmed by his widow, Shannon Abloh.

    “Virgil and Nike thrived together because he understood the brand’s role as a cornerstone of culture while Nike understood the importance of truly supporting creatives and their visions,” said Shannon, in a press release. “This beautiful four-day experience at Miami Art Week will honor their legacy together and champion both Virgil’s open-source methods and his genuine commitment to collaborating with and inspiring others.”

    The Codes exhibit in Miami will feature the official debut of the Off-White x Nike Terra Forma, an upcoming Abloh-designed pair that leaked this fall.

    The shoe, which is the first from-scratch Nike model in his wide catalog with the Swoosh, will release alongside accompanying apparel in December.

    Source: Complex.com

  • Kanye addresses Antisemitic remarks, incorrectly says George Floyd died from Fentanyl in ‘Drink Champs’ interview

    Nearly a year after he first appeared on Drink Champs, Kanye West returned to the show this week to discuss a variety of topics with N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Drink Champs (@drinkchamps)

    One of the clips from the episode that’s resulted in backlash sees Kanye discussing George Floyd, who West incorrectly claims died of a drug overdose. While referencing Candace Owens’ new documentary, “The Greatest Lie Ever Sold: George Floyd and the Rise of BLM,” Ye attempted to tie Floyd’s death to fentanyl. Floyd’s death was of course, ruled a homicide, and his killer, Derek Chauvin remains in prison.

    “If you look, the guy’s knee wasn’t even on his neck like that,” Kanye said.

    Though Floyd’s autopsy found fentanyl in his system, medical experts determined it wasn’t enough to be considered fatal.

    Elsewhere in the episode, Kanye mentioned how his Drink Champs viewership did better than Kim’s SNL episode when she hosted. He also called Drake “the greatest rapper ever.”

    The interview with Ye was pushed back several hours last night, but later went live on the Revolt app. They added a disclaimer this time: “All views or opinions expressed during the Podcast are solely those of the individuals expressing such view or opinion and does not reflect the views or opinions of Sean Combs, Revolt Media & TV LLC, or their respective parent and/or affiliate companies.”

    In the sneak preview, Ye talked about Virgil Abloh, Mav Carter blocking his interview on The Shop, and Bad Bunny.

    The episode arrives as Kanye has been embroiled in controversy.

    Earlier this month, Kanye experienced backlash after wearing a t-shirt with the phrase “White Lives Matter” during his YZY SZN 9 presentation that took place in Paris. The Chicago artist subsequently doubled down, calling Black Lives Matter a “scam.” He has since been ripped by countless critics, including Diddy, Boosie Badazz, and Jaden Smith, among others.

    Throughout the interview, Ye continues speaking about Jewish people, most notably Dov Charney—the Los Angeles Apparel founder, who printed Kanye’s controversial White Lives Matter tees. According to Ye, Charney, who is Jewish, refuses to release the shirts after West’s “Death con 3 on Jewish People” tweet. Charney encouraged West to visit the Holocaust Museum, to which West told him to visit Planned Parenthood, “our Holocaust Museum.”

    West also claims the four concerts he had booked at Los Angeles’ So-Fi Stadium were canceled by the stadium owners following his Death Con 3 tweet.

    Ye then accused Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, of killing Virgil, who died in November 2021 after a battle with cancer. Shortly after posting the rant on social media, Tremaine Emory, Supreme’s creative director, urged the rapper to not use the Virgil’s name as part of his “victim campaign” and alleged that Ye “rode on [Abloh] in group chats” and elsewhere.

    Emory then shared a screenshot of Ye’s Instagram post about YZY SZN 9 from earlier in the day in which he proposed discussing “more important things like how late the show was or how Bernard Arnault killed my best friend.” Arnault, notably, is the CEO at LVMH.

    In his caption, Emory urged Ye to not use the late Virgil Abloh’s name as part of his “victim campaign” and alleged that Ye “rode on [Abloh] in group chats” and elsewhere.

    “Ye tell the ppl why you didn’t get invited to Virgil’s actual funeral the one before the public one at the museum,” Emory, the founder of Denim Tears and Supreme’s current creative director, said.

    “You knew Virgil had terminal cancer and you rode on him in group chats, at yeezy, interviews…YOU ARE SO BROKEN. KEEP VIRGIL NAME OUT YOUR MOUTH.”

    Source: Complex.com

  • Virgil Abloh’s Legacy honored with limited edition Disney Merch featuring Mickey Mouse

    The eternal legacy of the late Virgil Abloh is the inspiration behind a new collection of limited edition merch from Disney.

    Extending the Brooklyn Museum’s “Figures of Speech” experience is the new collection from Disney and Virgil Abloh Securities, which notably features never-before-seen Mickey Mouse artwork. This take on Mickey, per a press release, marks Abloh’s “unique interpretation” of the beloved character. The design is utilized here in a variety of colorways across multiple apparel options, including pieces for children and adults.

    Get a closer look at the collection, prices for which top out at $120, below. The pieces are available to shop in person at the Brooklyn Museum and at this link.

    A Disney shirt is pictured
    Image via Disney/Virgil Abloh Securities

    A Disney design is pictured
    Image via Disney/Virgil Abloh Securities

    The Disney pieces follow last month’s rollout of Brooklyn Museum-housed pieces from Off-White. The exhibition itself, meanwhile, opened in July and is currently slated to run through January of next year. The decades-spanning experience was developed by the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, with the Brooklyn Museum version from curator Antwaun Sargent boasting archival pieces not previously seen by the public.

    Also in September, the Louis Vuitton: Virgil Abloh hardcover book was released, featuring “personal reflections” on the late designer from Kid Cudi, Naomi Campbell, Nigo, and more.

    Source: Complex.com

  • Virgil Abloh: Five things you might not have known about the fashion designer

    When Virgil Abloh died in November 2021, the fashion world was shocked. He’d kept his diagnosis of cardiac angiosarcoma – a rare, aggressive form of cancer – private from the world.

    By the relatively young age of 41, he’d risen to the top of one of the world’s biggest fashion houses (serving as the first African-American to lead Louis Vuitton), he’d founded his own successful label Off-White and he’d collaborated with some of the world’s biggest names, including his longtime friend Kanye West.

    The new BBC Three documentary Virgil Abloh: How To Be Both charts his rise from a suburb of Chicago without conventional fashion training or credentials to the top of the fashion world.

    Here are some of the things you might not have known about the US designer…

    1. His ‘insane’ work ethic

    Virgil Abloh achieved a lot during his lifetime and those that knew him put that down to his unusual ability to work hard on many different projects at the same time.

    Poet Kai-Isaiah Jamal, who was a friend of Virgil, says his “work ethic was insane” and that at all times he was taking calls and responding to emails and messages on two or three phones.

    Bliss
    “He really thrived when he was involved with lots of people and doing lots of things all at the same time,” says fashion critic and YouTuber Bliss Foster

    “Everyone used to laugh and be like when does he sleep? And the whole thing was like never,” Kai-Isaiah says. “He had time and capacity and space for everyone which I think is kind of unheard of. Everyone received the same amount of love.”

    “He really thrived when he was involved with lots of people and doing lots of things all at the same time,” says fashion critic and YouTuber Bliss Foster.

    2. He made much more than clothing

    As well as having his own fashion label and heading up Louis Vuitton menswear, Virgil was a DJ, a shoe designer collaborating with Nike, a furniture designer for IKEA and a car designer for Mercedes-Benz among many other things.

    “Virgil was important way outside of fashion, he was a cultural force,” says YouTuber Bliss.

    For IKEA, Virgil designed a wall clock, a chair, bedding and a rug in the shape of a giant IKEA receipt.

    Explaining why the worldwide furniture company decided to work with Virgil, Henrik Most – IKEA’s creative leader – says: “Once every 10 years, somebody turns up and has this almost magnetic connection with a generation.”

    “I think IKEA is a really important Virgil collab because it really underlines the idea that he wanted to create design for a mass audience,” says creative director and editor Thom Bettridge.

    3. He helped find a school

    During the Black Lives Matter protests in the summer of 2020, Virgil saw a news clip of activist Trinice McNally at a rally speaking about racism among the police.

    Trinice
    “We were able to raise about $80,000,” Trinice says. “It became this global campaign.”

    The designer sent her a message on social media and, via his brand Off-White, they went on to collaborate on a T-shirt with the logo “I Support Black Women” with the money going towards establishing the School for Black Feminist Politics in Washington DC.

    “We were able to raise about $80,000,” Trinice says. “It became this global campaign.”

    4. He had his critics

    Throughout his career, Virgil faced criticism around claims of plagiarism and critiques that he didn’t have any originality when it came to his designs. “There’s been naysayers to Virigil’s career since it started,” says Thom Bettridge.

    For example, one of the first shirts Virgil released early in his career simply featured a logo screen printed onto the back of a flannel Ralph Lauren rugby shirt.

    Honey
    Honey Dijon, a DJ who was a friend of Abloh, says: “There are lots of designers that are inspired by things that have gone before”

    However, some claim this criticism can be put down to racism.

    “I think if people are honest, most of the criticism based on Virgil’s plagiarism was rooted in racism,” says Bliss Foster. “Even if it’s not that overt, he is getting the brunt of all this frustration in the industry and it is mostly being directed at him as a racial issue.”

    Honey Dijon, a DJ who was a friend of Abloh, adds: “There are lots of designers that are inspired by things that have gone before, but when you’re a person of colour it’s called ‘stealing,’ when you’re not a person of colour it’s called ‘inspiration’.”

    5. He inspired other young designers

    Virgil Abloh was always keen to work with and help the people around him, according to the people who knew him.

    “He was very accessible as a person, someone who was very generous with his time,” says photographer Tommy Ton. He once even missed an important flight to sign his contract for Louis Vuitton because he wanted to spend more time with the students at a Harvard University event.

    Larry Sam
    “We got to ask him questions and he replied to them in a really humble way and cared a lot about sharing knowledge with young people,” Larry (left) says

    Young designers Larry Tchogninou and Samantha Smyser took part in a design programme at the NikeLab Chicago Re-Creation Center, which had set up a collaboration with Virgil Abloh.

    “We got to ask him questions and he replied to them in a really humble way and cared a lot about sharing knowledge with young people,” Larry says.

    “At the end of the programme, Virgil Abloh came in and saw our work and gave us feedback,” Samantha says. “His presence alone being a black man and reaching the heights of menswear for Louis Vuitton just really opened my eyes to there being no limit.”

    Source:myjoyonline.com

  • Kanye West shares texts with Tremaine Emory about his relationship with Virgil Abloh

    Kanye West and Tremaine Emory are still at odds over the former’s recent comments about the late Virgil Abloh.

    Earlier this week, Ye accused Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, of killing Virgil, who died in November 2021 after a battle with cancer. Shortly after posting the rant on social media, Emory, Supreme’s creative director, urged the rapper to not use the Virgil’s name as part of his “victim campaign” and alleged that Ye “rode on [Abloh] in group chats” and elsewhere.

    “Ye tell the ppl why you didn’t get invited to Virgil’s actual funeral the one before the public one at the museum,” Emory said. “You knew Virgil had terminal cancer and you rode on him in group chats, at yeezy, interviews…YOU ARE SO BROKEN. KEEP VIRGIL NAME OUT YOUR MOUTH.”

    On Friday, Kanye took to Instagram to share texts between him and Emory, as the pair discussed his relationship with Virgil.

    Once again, Emory accused Kanye of riding Virgil, in addition to failing to mention why he wasn’t invited to Abloh’s funeral.

    “You still ain’t tell the people why you weren’t invited at Virgil’s private funeral,” he wrote. “Why you rode on him when you knew he was sick. That’s the ether. That’s the shit you can’t address. The shit you can’t live with. All the hate you spewed on your brother.”

    Kanye responded by alleging he wasn’t aware Virgil had cancer, writing, “Virgil never said anything to me himself.”

    From there, he admitted being jealous of Virgil, claiming that he was hurt about Abloh’s relationship with Drake.

    “I’ve made mistakes,” Ye wrote. “I was jealous of Virgil. I felt betrayed by and lied to by Virgil. I felt he gave Drake the green diamond watch just to fuck with me. But I love Virgil too and I miss him.”

    Source: Complex.com