Abloh Virgil

With his passing shocking the wider world as his illness was kept pretty much a secret, it seems Virgil Abloh stepped on the accelerator after his fatal diagnosis. One of the very few people of colour in such a senior position, he worked tirelessly to leave the door open after kicking through it. A large part of his legacy is a self-serving, all-encompassing machine that works to demystify the fashion industry, whether that’s through his simplistic “DESIGN” elements, his endorsement of countless up-and-coming individuals, or his website “FREE GAME”.

Let’s not forget his numerous collaborations with sports stars, allowing them to explore their identities beyond their field of play. Famed for designing Serena Williams’ 2018 “QUEEN” Collection, which she wore in the US Open in the same year, his “TRACK & FIELD” show a year later brought together runway models like Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner with professional athletes –most notably Dina Asher-Smith – to showcase his latest collection for Off-White.

Many sports stars moved into the world of fashion and editorial through his work. Spanish footballer Héctor Bellerin’s debut runway appearance came in Abloh’s first show for Louis Vuitton, for example, and the artist Bafic’s film Sub Eleven Seconds credited Abloh as its executive producer – two examples of his intent to continually break formats and boxes.

With a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in architecture, his collaboration with IKEA through his brand Off-White felt like a match made in heaven, further making contemporary the structural world of furniture. Memorable pieces include a variety of rugs — most notably the “KEEP OFF” and “WET GRASS” concepts — that once again are iterations of his design language, just manifesting differently.

Then there is his impact within music. Not only was he a famed DJ, playing for the likes of Travis Scott and in famous events such as Circoloco at DC10, he also repurposed his architectural and design knowledge to design and creatively direct the design of album art. His client list included some of the biggest hitters from the world of hip-hop and rap, including A$AP Rocky, Kid Cudi, Lil Uzi Vert and Pop Smoke.

Announced nearly a year on from his passing, the RCA Virgil Abloh Scholarship feels like an aptly named celebration of everything Abloh was about, providing opportunities without boundaries and allowing anyone to walk the same path as the most esteemed creatives we know.

As the tributes poured out upon discovery of his passing, it was only after the best part of 15 months that his position at Louis Vuitton was filled. Whilst there’ll always be a Virgil-sized hole left not only within Louis Vuitton and Off-White but in the world as a whole, Louis Vuitton’s legacy is in safe hands following the appointment of Pharrell Williams as its new Men’s Creative Director.

Becoming a worldbuilder is not only about stepping into worlds that are seemingly inaccessible to those like yourself, it’s also about using your presence in that world to make others’ lives better as a result.

Not many people would be willing to continue to battle on as Ruth Bader Ginsburg did after decades and decades of adversity. Working her way up the legal ladder to the position of Supreme Court Judge at the time of her passing, her ascension is a story of its own.

But rather than focus on RBG’s personal achievements, we want to focus on just some of the monumental changes she was responsible for. Shaping the world to become a more positive place for so many marginalised groups made RBG a unique kind of worldbuilder, but a worldbuilder all the same.

Whether we begin with her endless work to preserve a woman’s right to choose through Roe v Wade or her continuous push towards demanding equal pay for women in the workplace, her passing raised serious concerns about laws she stood so strongly to protect.

Placing the needs of her nation over the wants – which would’ve certainly see her have an easier ride – we hope that Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy continues to live out, giving freedom of the world to many more marginalised groups she fought so hard to empower.