Off-White designer Virgil Abloh to branch out to furniture design

By

Kate Dingwall

Published
Nov 30, 2016

Off-White designer Virgil Abloh is releasing a line of self-designed furniture. The 2015 LVMH Prize Finalist this week will release his inaugural furniture collection at Art Basel in Miami. 

The new furniture collection includes tables, chairs, and credenzas made with materials like steel, stone, and wood, and feature clean lines similar to Off-White's signature logo. 
 
The venture is not out of the blue for Abloh. The 35-year-old designer has an extensive educational background in architecture—receiving an undergraduate degree in engineering from the University of Wisconson—and a graduate degree in architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Abloh launched Off-White in 2013 in an effort to bridge the gap between high-fashion and streetwear. Abloh rose to fame as Kanye West’s creative director, and for his streetwear brand Pyrex Vision and his store RSVP Gallery in Chicago. His brand, Off-White, is considered to be one of the most covetable brands in the streetwear world. 
 
Among other fashion brands showing at the illustrious Miami festival, Missoni will launch Surface Conversation – the art project the house launched in New York City in October to spark a conversation between fashion and contemporary art. Loewe will also hold an exhibition, and MM6 by Maison Margiela launched a pop-up experience to coincide with the festival.
 
The new furniture line isn’t Abloh’s first foray outside of the fashion world. The multi-talented designer also can be seen spinning in the DJ booth at many clubs and industry events around the world.
 
Art Basel will be open to the public Thursday, December 1.