Virgil Abloh was born in Rockford, llinois, in 1980 to Ghanaian parents. He cultivated an interest in design and music at an early age, finding inspiration in the urban culture of Chicago. He developed an interest for fashion while studying architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology.  He met Kanye West while working on his designs. He joined the rapper’s creative team to work on album covers, concert designs, and merchandising.

In 2013, he launched Off-White, a high-end streetwear label based in Milan, Italy. The brand is identified through the use of quotation marks, capital letters, and barricade tapes in its collections to convey detachment from society and social norms. He has several collaborations with companies such as Ikea and Louis Vuitton, focusing on the positive aspects of immigration, cultural integration, and globalization. In 2018, Abloh assumed the position of Men’s Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton.