In recent days, Virgil Abloh has been remembered widely as the ‘first black artistic director’ for Louis Vuitton. Recalling him as just an artistic director for a fashion behemoth, or just thinking of him as groundbreaking, changemaking because he was a person of colour is doing a great disservice to him.

Abloh was a first-gen Ghanaian American, and he found the base for his work in fashion when he learnt how to sew with his mother who was a seamstress. But his vision and skill was never limited to just one artistic discipline.

He made art, previewed music, was an architect, had his own label, Off-White, and extended his interest in design and architecture to furniture. He was a true multi-hyphenate, who has helped landscape what fashion looks like today, and will look like tomorrow.

Abloh the DJ

Virgil Abloh DJed since he was a young adult, and played at parties and launches, as well as at festivals like Lollapalooza.

Abloh the furniture creator

Grey Area, Abloh’s furniture venture was the outcome of his interest in creation in general. He also collaborated with brands for collections, including Ikea.

Abloh the cover artist

While he has designed album art for various artists in the hip-hop/rap community, Abloh’s work for the Jay-Z/Yeezy album Watch The Throne won him a Grammy nomination.

Abloh the collaborator

Be it Nike or Mercedez-Benz, competition outfit for Serena Williams or wedding dress for Hailey Bieber, or art with Damien Hirst, Virgil Abloh did it all.