Virgil Abloh, creative director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collections and his own label Off-White (and DJ), is the fashion industry’s most sought-after hypeman. Collaboration has become his modus operandi and each one that he drops has an in-the-know, head-nodding cool factor. The formula Off-White x [insert Fashion Brand] has grown so successful in it’s own rite, that Abloh’s influence has naturally extended beyond fashion. This year, a number of non-fashion brands have called on the 38-year-old designer for his creative guidance. Ahead, a list of the most-hyped, “non-fashion” collabs that Virgil dropped in 2018.
Cha Cha Matcha x Virgil Abloh
This was a curveball. Two “brands” we know and love: Cha Cha Matcha, a popular tea shop, and Virgil Abloh, the designer, dropped a line of merch in December. It’s not everyday that your favorite designer teams up with your matcha provider of choice, and the two commemorated the occasion with a capsule of t-shirts and hoodies in Cha Cha Matcha’s signature pastel pink, as well as black and white.
Of the partnership, Conrad Sandel, co-founder of Cha Cha Matcha, told Vogue, “[Virgil] came in as a customer and got to talking. We realized we had a bunch of mutual friends, and then we became friends and started talking about architecture, design, fashion, all those things,” adding, “And at a certain point, you know, we thought, let’s do something together.”
evian x Virgil Abloh
Add “Creative Advisor” of Sustainable Innovation Design to Abloh’s lengthy resume.
“Architect, artist, engineer, designer @VirgilAbloh embodies next generation possibilities,” Evian writes in an Instagram caption. “Joining the team for ongoing collaboration, together we will break new ground in a sustainable design innovation, as we continue our bold ambitions and progress towards being 100% circular by 2025.”
In layman’s terms, Abloh will help to put a creative spin on sustainable product designs, like caps and bottles.
IKEA x Off-White
Technically, news of IKEA and Off-White’s partnership dropped last year in 2017, but it still hasn’t dropped and we would be remiss not to include it in Abloh’s list of non-fashion partnerships. Details of the drop are somewhat limited, but we know that it is due to release sometime in 2019. Earlier in 2018, Abloh and IKEA walked viewers through a preview of the collection in a hour-long YouTube video.
Off-White x Rimowa
Abloh and Rimowa collaborated a couple of times in 2018. Earlier this year, the design duo launched a clear, polycarbonate suitcase that received a bit of criticism from the Internet. Then, in October, the brands released another set of suitcases, this time in black and white, retailing for a cool $1,700 each.
Virgil Abloh & “KALEIDOSCOPE” Magazine
Abloh appeared on KALEIDOSCOPE magazine’s FallWinter cover, and in November, announced an exhibit with the Milan-based publication. Abloh appeared on KALEIDOSCOPE magazine’s FallWinter cover, and in November, announced an exhibit with the Milan-based magazine that featured installations and works of art from the issue, as well as Abloh.
MOËT & CHANDON c/o VIRGIL ABLOH™
In September, Virgil and Moët & Chandon dropped an exclusive bottle of rosé, with a custom-designed bottle by Abloh. Each bottle says “DO NOT DROP” along the side, in Abloh’s signature style and starts at $89 at Reserve Bar.