Stepping onto i-D online’s radar when he stormed London earlier this year, Virgil Abloh is the continent-hopping impresario often involved in Kanye West’s aesthetic acclaim, Chicago destination store RSVP Gallery and now his very own clothing collection.
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Virgil Abloh is the guy everyone wants on their team. Physically imposing, sartorially inspiring and musically hyperlinked, he’s fast become famed for his pivotal role in building brand Yeezy, turning his design hand to everything from album artwork to sneaker soles. From today though he treads a couple of toes into his own spotlight with the launch of PYREX VISION SS13. His creative credentials and three years of supplying Chicago with mens and womenswear through his store, RSVP Gallery, means that he has an acute awareness of what’s needed to take garms from GIFs and e-tail shop rails to stages and pavements.
For his design debut, Virgil looked to his teenage years for inspiration, explaining “It’s all based on my high school experience. Pusha-T drug raps. Champion gym uniforms. Caravaggio obsession. Michael Jordan as God. Kurt Cobain felt the most real. Black kid with white tendencies. That juxtaposition.” A graphical and black-on-black nod to Givenchy don and Kanye collaborator, Riccardo Tisci, is distinct and with A$AP Tisci’s designs regularly cladding some of the most promising young backs in the music business, PYREX VISION looks set to share the crown. As demonstrated in the musical talent from Harlem and Amsterdam that Virgil hand-picked to star in PV’s SS13 look book and video (glance right).
Starting simple, the collection is made up of a range of printed tees, shirts, shorts and hoodies in simple block colours and plaids, “It’s essentially screen printing with purpose. Embedded thoughts of permanence and youthfulness on seemingly everyday garments. Almost industrial.” Those familiar with the designer’s personal style and the nocturnal uniforms of his fellow Been Trill collective members, will recognise the serif’d block type that will no doubt become a key identifier in future collections. Clad in plaid and PYREX printed, Team Virgil FTW.
PYREX VISION SS13 is available to buy from rsvpgallery.com soon.
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Text: Sean Baker
Film direction: Virgil Abloh and Young Man
Film editing: David Muniz
Models: A$AP BARRI, A$AP NAST, A$AP JOSH, Ian Connor, A$AP ILLZ, Nayle Junior of Illuminati AMS.
