Louis Vuitton Has Named Its New Menswear Designer and the Internet Isn’t Coping

Word just got out that Louis Vuitton has just named Virgil Abloh as its new menswear designer. The Off-White founder (and Kanye West favourite) has garnered a cult following throughout the years—and for a good reason. There’s no denying that Abloh has a keen eye for fresh styles; which may be exactly what the European fashion house has been needing.

There's no denying that Louis Vuitton has a reputation for being a classical brand, but Abloh’s new appointment speaks to the fact that modern shoppers want fashion that is not just recognisable—but also wearable. According to the New York Times, Louis Vuitton’s executive director Michael Burke shared that “Virgil is incredibly good at creating bridges between the classic and the zeitgeist of the moment.” And that’s exactly what we hope to see.

No stranger to collaborations, Abloh has worked with brands like Fendi, Nike, Jimmy Choo, and Supreme to name a few. Speaking to NYT, he shared that this position is somewhat like another iteration of all those collabs of days gone by. “In a way, all of my output has been to make a compelling case for me to take on a role such as this,” Mr. Abloh said. “I think of it as kind of the ultimate collaboration.”

If Louis Vuitton has been feeling a little tired (or just too old) lately, we’re taking this as a sign that that’s about to change. Quickly. Abloh’s almost unbelievable levels of popularity, combined with his uncanny ability to make everything a little cooler, pretty much guarantees that we’re about to see Louis Vuitton like we never have before. Even Kim Kardashian wished him congrats on his Insta post, talk about influence. What he does, others follow. And we have no doubt that his foray into menswear will seep into runways and street style alike.

Abloh has a gift for making fashion feel accessible, and we can’t help but wonder what this will look like in terms of Louis Vuittion, a brand which already has such a strong history behind it. Abloh's perspective? “I want to use Louis Vuitton’s history with travel to really look at different cultures around the world to help make all our humanity visible” he told NYT. “When creativity melds together with global issues, I believe you can bring the world together. Fashion on this level can really open eyes.” Let’s just say… we can’t wait for our eyes to be opened.

Opening Image Credits: Getty Images

Can't get enough of Abloh? Shop the Off-White X Sunglass Hut collaboration online.