Fashion is off to an incredible start in 2019 with Europe’s Mens Fashion Week wrapping up and New York Fashion Week on the way. One of the most anticipated collections of the year happens to be Virgil Abloh’s Spring/Summer ‘19 Menswear lineup, his first collection as creative director of Louis Vuitton Menswear.
The Michael Jackson inspired collection itself is lucrative and strays away from the typical LV archetype of any other collection to come before it. Abloh sets the scene for the premier viewing on a New York city sidewalk as an ode to the set Michael Jackson moonwalked on in his infamous “Billie Jean” music video. It focuses on putting humanity in society to the forefront while using the male silhouette as his canvas.
Prices for the collection were released last Saturday afternoon and the blogs are raving. The buzzworthy collection has already outsold their 2017 competitor, the Supreme x Louis Vuitton collaboration, by 30 percent. While prices start at $290, the highest price happens to be a five-figured feat. Surely most collectors are willing to cough up the $78,000 for a piece of history; It’s Virgil Abloh we’re talking about here.
The signature item happens to be none other than the LV Male Courier 110—a chicly monogrammed trunk for luxury travel. Due to its Virgil Abloh of Off-White makeover, this model is going for $44,000 more than the standard model found on Louis Vuitton’s website—a 129 percent increase.
While the piece is certainly a collector’s item for any Louis Vuitton fan, it brings about the question: is it worth it? The listed price is comparable to that of a Birkin—an 18-hour handcrafted custom handbag with an $800 production cost, that sells anywhere from $11,000 to a hefty $300,000. The staggering $78,000 price tag would definitely grab the attention of social media influencers, your favorite musicians and the upper one-percent as it is a prominent fashion status symbol, however Virgil’s touch might be enough to send rare customers into a buying frenzy.
Abloh’s name is so significant in this ever-changing industry which is what gives this collection its rightful place on a consumer’s list of must-haves. It’s tactical evidence that Louis Vuitton is on the come up and everyone wants a piece of Abloh’s legacy.
For those who aren’t keen on the five-figure price tag, there are other items such as the eye-catching neon colored 50B Keepall or the Mini Polochon crossbody bag for the more inconspicuous customer who prefers something along the lines of a subtle flex. If these leather goods don’t make you grab your wallet then keep an eye out for the Instagram-worthy fiber optic high top silhouette sneaker and matching Keepall duffle to hit retail suppliers. While the show stopping items have yet to receive a release date, they have already massed an average of 400,000 likes via Louis Vuitton’s Instagram.
Let’s face it folks, the fashion world is Virgil Abloh’s and we’re just living in it.
Written by Khyla Burns