Naomi Campbell interviews Virgil Abloh for Vogue UK

*** UPDATE 29/11/2021 *** 

This article was originally published on July 21, 2021, just few months before Virgil Abloh’s passing. Virgil Abloh was a source of inspiration and a pioneer, the whole nss’ editorial staff and team magazine huddles in condolences to the family and collaborators.

The first show of Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton was one of the most anticipated events of the season and the fashion industry is still in turmoil for its debut collection, a mix of monochromatic looks, made from a streetwear influence, tailored cuts and appealing accessories.

For Vogue UK, in the first episode of a series of meetings with designers making their debut in historic fashion houses, Naomi Campbell interviews the founder of Off-White at the Louis Vuitton headquarters in Paris.

The top model listens, participates and accompanies Abloh as he talks about how the engineer father influenced his approach to fashion, but also of admiration towards the founder of the fashion house and how the man has revolutionized the fashion of his era through the introduction of rectangular trunks decorated with the monogram emblem.

Virgil also confesses that he feels honored to be part of an archive dating back to 1854, together with capable designers such as Marc Jacobs and Kim Jones, underlining how the work by LV allows him to get closer to his goal: to be remembered.

When Naomi asks him what it means for him to wear the clothes already worn by Kim Jones, the American admits that the work of his predecessor, with the mix of sportswear and luxury, was somehow instrumental to his arrival at the historic French fashion house.

The two, do in fact share many things like a crew of famous friends, love for Jordan:

"I had never met a designer who had such a streetwear culture, such love for fashion and vintage shopping."

And if you're curious what other designers he admires, he honorably mentions Riccardo Tisci and Nicolas Ghesquiere Phoebe Philo

At a certain point, inevitably came the question about the moving finale of the show and the hug with Kanye West.

"Kanye and I have been friends for 14 years, we have always been driven by fashion, I wanted the world to see that the boy who fought for this moment is part of it and is unequivocally bound to me in doing so. The one thing that has to be stressed about that show is that it actually wasn't me on the runway, you know. It was the community. That show was us, [Kanye] willed it for us... That dream is his just as much as it's mine. In my dream, it was him down the runway." 

At the end, Naomi reminds her "guest" how the SS19 collection for Louis Vuitton is just the beginning. Virgil agrees and says he is looking forward to entering the next phase of his career. We also, of course, can't help but notice the sneakers the dynamic fashion duo are wearing, with Virgil rocking his own Nike Prestos, and Miss Campbell is wearing a pair of the new super hyped Nike Reacts in black. 

Check out the whole interview via Vogue here.