Virgil Abloh has had quite the prolific 2018 thus far. After debuting his latest Off-White collection during Paris Fashion Week, the designer was then tapped by none other than Louis Vuitton to assume the role of creative director following Kim Jones' departure to Dior Homme. Abloh can now add Converse and Ikea to his arsenal of partnerships, effectively diversifying his reach with some new endeavours.
Converse has recently unveiled their remodelled Chuck 70 model, which bears Abloh's distinct touch. The sneaker is a direct result of the continued collaborative streak between Off-White and Nike (who owns the shoe company.) As a result, the classic Chuck Taylor is re-envisioned with a translucent upper, shoelaces that have the word "shoelaces" cheekily printed on them, as well as the term "vulcanized" emblazoned on the midsole.
"What we're talking about here is larger than sneakers, it’s larger than design culture. It’s nothing short of state-of-the-art design. These 10 shoes have broken barriers in performance and style. To me, they are on the same level as a sculpture of David or the Mona Lisa. You can debate it all you want, but they mean something. And that's what's important," Abloh reckons about the iconic brand.
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Abloh recently used a livestream to showcase items from his forthcoming design partnership with Swedish home decor giant Ikea, aptly titled "MARKERAD." The pieces will be affordable and widely circulated, which is definitely more accessible to his droves of millennial fans.
The collection will include rugs, chairs, door stops, display cases, and a table. However, the household furnishings contain a distinct Ablohian infuence, as a Persian rug will come replete with the words "KEEP OFF" printed directly in the centre.
However, the items are still in the prototype phase, as the two cultural forces are still labouring over final designs and materials.
Peep an exclusive first look at the collection below:
