The Life of Virgil Abloh

The first book about visionary designer Virgil Abloh since his passing last November, “Louis Vuitton: Virgil Abloh” is a testament to a relationship that changed the course of fashion history. The appointment of Virgil Abloh to Men’s Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton—the house’s first African-American to hold that role—marked both a moment and a movement. It was the origin point of luxury’s new era, one defined by inclusivity, diversity, and empowerment.

Written by Abloh’s close collaborator, Anders Christian Madsen, the title offers an intimate, insider portrait of a man born to break boundaries on and off the runway. Divided into eight chapters, one for each of the eight Virgil-orchestrated Louis Vuitton menswear collections and shows (plus the complete catalogue of the designer’s sneakers) “Louis Vuitton: Virgil Abloh” dives deep into a singular, kite-flying, rainbowcolored world filled with rich cultural reference points and narratives, from “The Wizard of Oz” and James Baldwin to 1990s hip-hop style and a mind-bending 1969 drum solo.

With over 320 stunningly iconic images and personal reflections from Virgil’s inner circle—including Nigo, Naomi Campbell, Luka Sabbat, Kendall Jenner and Kid Cudi—the book presents the definitive chronicle and exploration of a partnership that redefined not only dress codes but their very vocabulary. Assouline and Louis Vuitton are releasing the title with two collectible covers within the Assouline Classics Collection. One os taken from the Louis Vuitton’s spring/summer 2022 spinoff show in

Miami, with an image of a young child bounding towards a striking red Louis Vuitton hot air balloon, emblematic of the significance of youth in Virgil’s work. The other sports cartoon artwork by cultural icon/artist Reggieknow, who illustrated the now cult characters for Virgil’s spring/summer 2021 show.