In November 2021, the world farewelled an icon of the fashion industry; founder and CEO of Off-White and artistic director of Louis Vuitton menswear, Virgil Abloh. Abloh was praised by hundreds of notable characters in the fashion game as he sadly passed from cancer at age 41. Born in Rockford, Illinois, became a household name in the world of modern and hype fashion rather quickly over the past decade. He began his career with an internship at Fendi in 2009 — alongside good friend Kanye West — which then saw his artistic creativity blossom into a multimillion-dollar company, ‘Off-White,’ in which he served as founder and CEO from 2013 onwards.
In March 2018, Virgil Abloh took on a new role as artistic director of Louis Vuitton Menswear. A coveted and prestigious position in the world of luxury threads. Abloh’s impact was felt instantly, with his debut runway show at the 2018 Men’s Fashion Week in Paris featuring stars such as Rihanna, Playboi Carti and Kid Cudi. Abloh’s presence in the world of fashion was making waves. That same year, in collaboration with Nike, Abloh designed a sports outfit for 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams for her campaign in the 2018 US Open.
Sadly, Virgil Abloh passed from cancer on November 28, 2021 in Chicago, at the age of 41.
In the days following, Mercedes-Benz unveiled ‘Project MAYBACH,’ a collaborative motor vehicle between Abloh and Mercedes Maybach. The car is an off-road-oriented 2-seater electric coupe, something out of a Mad Max meets Back to the Future crossover.
The vehicle is an astonishing 6 metres long, longer than the standard Maybach cars. It has massive wheel arches to fit large off-road tyres, and what looks like a mix between the interior of a Rolls Royce Phantom and Bathurst 1000 Supercar.
Carefully designed by Abloh, the car features a safety cage, all while including the finishing touches of the most opulent class. The two-seater motor is currently on display at Miami’s Rubell Museum.
