Virgil Abloh's Off-White FW18 merges sport and fashion with elite athletes

Virgil Abloh presented his Off-White Fall/Winter 2018 collection during Paris Fashion Week on a runway designed as a hybrid of a speed track and concrete road. Eight elite athletes walked alongside professional models, their names and nationalities displayed on an electronic board like at international competitions. Members of the French women's football team were mixed among the audience. The collection featured activewear pieces, including the Waffle Racer sneakers, which Abloh described as handmade prototypes. He challenged Nike to create a shoe that looked like a prototype made by hand, moving away from what he called a 'microwave' aesthetic. Abloh announced plans to develop a full women's activewear collection for Nike by 2019, emphasizing sustainable practices. His collaboration with Nike has been a success, and he sees activewear as a long-term commitment, not a runway gimmick. Abloh is also the men's artistic director at Louis Vuitton and gained fame for Serena Williams's tennis dress with a tutu at the 2018 US Open. Earlier in 2018, he created 'Football, Mon Amour' for the World Cup in Russia, including the Mercurial Vapor football boot.