OFF WHITE + NIKE

In 2017, Virgil Abloh teamed up with Nike to launch what would become one of the most ambitious sneaker collaborations ever created. Titled “The Ten,” the project wasn’t just a collection—it was a complete re-imagining. Abloh deconstructed iconic silhouettes from Nike, Air Jordan, and Converse, then rebuilt them with exposed stitching, industrial text, and a raw, almost unfinished aesthetic that instantly reshaped sneaker culture. The result? Massive critical praise and a resale market frenzy that still echoes today.

But “The Ten” was only the beginning. Abloh’s partnership with Nike evolved into a constant stream of boundary-pushing releases—capsules tied to global moments like the FIFA World Cup, collaborations honoring athletes like Serena Williams, and surprise drops that kept sneaker-heads on edge. His work with the Nike Dunk alone—spanning over 50 variations—helped turn “Exclusive Access” into a cultural phenomenon. He experimented with performance runners, reworked multiple Air Jordan models, and elevated the Nike Air Force 1 into a cornerstone of his creative vision.

Just six months after his debut with Nike, Abloh was named men’s artistic director at Louis Vuitton—a move that signaled his influence had transcended sneakers and entered the highest levels of fashion. More than just a designer, he became a cultural architect, permanently changing how sneakers were designed, worn, and understood.

In November 2021, Virgil Abloh passed away at just 41 after battling a rare form of cancer. Although the pace of new collaborations has slowed since then, his legacy hasn’t. His designs continue to inspire, his ideas continue to shape the industry, and his impact remains stitched into the DNA of modern sneaker culture.