Louis Vuitton named Virgil Abloh its men’s artistic director in 2018.

Evidence

Then, on March 25, 2018, Louis Vuitton cemented the streetwear-luxury hybridization by appointing Virgil Abloh as its men’s artistic director. A Ghanaian American and Kanye West’s former creative director, Abloh had gained fame with his streetwear label Off-White. His ascent to the helm of Europe’s most prestigious luxury brand marked a historic moment, celebrated as a triumph of Black representation in fashion. Louis Vuitton CEO Michael Burke first met Abloh in 2009 when he and Kanye interned at Fendi for $500 a month. — W. David Marx, Blank Space, 763