Marcelo Burlon on VIRGIL ABLOH for LOUIS VUITTON

This is such an exciting moment for menswear - it’s l ike, BOOM! And Virgil is someone who is like us. He represents the new. I feel super happy for Virgil, and it’s a very smart move by Vuitton.

Today there is no separation between what people call streetwear and fashion in general - it isn’t an outsider category. Virgil is a guy who properly represents the new world. He is involved in music, design, arts, social media; he is on the top list of bestsellers with Of f-White and he drives a lot of traf f ic into the stores. There i s nobody else today who brings together a ll t hese different elements like Virgil does. In communication what to post, how to post, when to post - all those details make a big difference, and Virgil understands that naturally. Like it or not - because I’m pretty sure t here a re some people who don’t like what he does! - he perfectly ref lects what is going on today. He is a perfect link between streetwear and luxury, and he closes the gap between the designer and t he f inal client. I am a c reative d irector who has come i nto fashion through a different route - I was a stylist - and that is one of the reasons I was so i nterested i n Virgil when we met.

The very fi rst t ime was a round 2009, 2010 - parties, Kanye, Givenchy, a ll that circle. Then around 2012 I went to see him DJ in Paris and he said: “I have a new project in mind and I am looking for someone to produce.” So he came over to Milan and pretty soon we were signing contracts - and then suddenly Off-White was born. From the point of view of Louis Vuitton this is absolutely an intelligent move: he is going to bring so many new customers to the house. I really like what Kim Jones did for Louis Vuitton. I’ve been fan of his since the Umbro days! However, I think what Virgil is bringing up is a totally new thing. We are kind of lucky to witness this moment in fashion: it feels like our generation is really taking over, and Virgil is at the forefront of that.