Following the tragic loss of Virgil Abloh, the creative director for Louis Vuitton’s menswear collections, the fashion house is commemorating his memory in a poignant manner. Rather than the usual Christmas decorations, Louis Vuitton’s flagship boutiques worldwide have adorned their windows with vibrant, rainbow-colored panels, paying homage to Abloh’s distinctive style. The esteemed designer passed away on November 28 after a courageous battle with cancer.
A monumental rainbow-colored statue of Virgil Abloh took center stage at Louis Vuitton’s recent menswear runway show in Miami on November 30. The show served as a heartfelt tribute to Abloh and brought together a star-studded guest list of over 1,500 attendees, including luminaries like Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Bella Hadid, Pharrell Williams, and the entire Arnault family.
From the iconic Champs-Elysées boutique in Paris to Milan, New York, Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka, London, Moscow, Taipei, Los Angeles, Chicago, Singapore, Istanbul, Bangkok, and Madrid, Louis Vuitton’s global flagships now feature these vividly colored windows bearing the message «Virgil was here.» This phrase was also used as the title of the Miami show, inspired by how Abloh would often include it as a signature on his coveted Off-White sneakers.
In addition to the rainbow panels, some windows showcase select quotes from the visionary American designer, such as «Let your imagination run riot,» «Everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself,» and «I’m a dreamer. I think about how long my ideas can impact or bring a different voice to the rest of the world.»
These heartfelt displays have been in place for several days, coinciding with Abloh’s private burial ceremony in his hometown of Chicago on December 6.
