Virgil Abloh’s final Louis Vuitton collection.
Time, space, love. As Virgil Abloh’s last collection was presented posthumously on Thursday in Paris, it was a tribute towards a superhuman, someone who brought love, respect and kindness at the forefront of creation, someone so kind and gentle that ushered human connection first to everything he did. His huge heart and soul would make the world stop by and listen, hearing one’s own sense of self in a shift towards healing, breaking down stereotypes and allowing each one of us to exist, exactly the way we want to exist. A powerful healer, elevating the way we express ourselves, constantly reminding us of the most precious thing we possess – our voice and our soul.
For his eighth collection for Louis Vuitton, Abloh’s concept was constructed by the idea of “a liberal definition of terms and explanation of ideas” aiming to reconstruct the ways of seeing and examining the world. Decoding our relationship with fashion and how our self-expression showcases how we treat ourselves and others, Virgil reminds us how special that language of expression is, and how it is all we have – our imagination and the fervour behind it.
The show’s set further provided the pure curious flare of childhood with its Louis Dreamhouse, a place where every goal is possible and every pursuit of creativity is encouraged. This magical place also included elements from his previous shows such as the rainbow from Collection 1 and build-your-own kite kits from Collection 3, providing an arc and retrospect into the designer’s goal about pure imagination and pure atmosphere.
The collection’s feeling brought out a nostalgic innocence, a reminiscence of the boy from Rockford, Illinois imagining his creations, crafting beauty in his head that the world is yet to see. As white tulle and crinolines combined with butterfly-like wings flowed through the runway, you can’t help but feel his presence around you and his outlook on life, which was all about authenticity. The inclusion of cartoon characters in his collections, embroidered on bomber jackets and patched into his Boyhood Ideology, Virgil Abloh always wanted to bring an untainted, curious child-like sensibility, an outlook on life without preconceived notions or expectations. Being a fierce advocate for young talent and a beacon of hope for so many students – all aspiring artists and creatives, Virgil taught us to be fearless and to believe, believe in our mission and ourselves first.
Thank you Virgil, for showing how pure and powerful it is to be exactly who you are, to the deepest ounce of soul in your body.
“Life is so short you can’t waste even a day subscribing to what someone thinks you can do versus knowing what you can do.” –Virgil Abloh
