Sneakers designed by Virgil Abloh fetch US$25m
AN auction of 200 pairs of the Louis Vuitton and Nike Air Force 1 sneakers created by late American designer Virgil Abloh have fetched a total of US$25 million, auction house Sotheby’s said.
e most paid for one of the pairs was more than US$350 000
— size 5 — during an online sale that ran from January 26 to February 8, the auction house said on Wednesday.
e sums greatly exceed the initial estimates of Sotheby’s, which had started the bidding at US$2 000 per pair and had predicted they would sell for between US$5 000 and US$15 000 each. In the end, the sneakers, which ranged in size from five to 18, averaged more than US$100 000 per shoe. e cheapest sold for just over US$75 000.
e special edition shoes, made of calf leather, were originally created for Louis Vuitton’s 2022 spring-summer men’s collection, of which Abloh was artistic director.
Abloh, a multi-talented DJ, architect and designer died in November at the age of 41 following a private battle with cancer.
A close associate of Kanye West, Abloh was the first Black American to be named creative director of a top French fashion house and brought streetwear and a less elitist approach to the world of luxury.
e brown, white and creamcoloured sneakers boast Nike’s famous swoosh logo Louis Vuitton’s recognisable monogram and damier motifs. ey were created to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Nike Air Force 1, which was designed in 1982.
Proceeds from the sale will benefit a scholarship fund set up by Virgil Abloh that supports aspiring designers of Black, African-American, or African descent.