Virgil Abloh redefined both streetwear style and high fashion throughout his genre-defying career. As founder of the trailblazing fashion label Off-White, he showcased acclaimed collections that drew equal inspiration from the worlds of architecture, fine art and hip hop. His work soon attracted the attention of Nike, who tapped Virgil Abloh—a longtime sneakerhead—to design a limited series of Nike x Off White Virgil Abloh shoes. Known as “The Ten,” the 2017 sneaker collaboration would go down in history as one of the most important and ambitious sneaker collections of all time.
In 2018, buoyed by the success of “The Ten” and subsequent Off White Nike collabs, Abloh was named artistic director of menswear for Louis Vuitton. At the helm of the venerable maison, Abloh continued his partnership with Nike. The Louis Vuitton sneakers that he created in his final years are undoubtedly among the most luxurious and sought-after shoes of his career. Ahead, discover our team’s favorite Virgil Abloh sneaker collabs, available for immediate purchase at our online marketplace.
6 Must-Have Off White Virgil Abloh Sneakers for Every Collector
Nike Air Presto Off White The Ten Friends and Family
As part of 2017’s groundbreaking Off White Nike “The Ten” collection, Virgil Abloh put his spin on the classic Air Presto silhouette. The deconstructed Off White Prestos appear “inside out,” featuring an added heel strap, stitched on tonal Swoosh on the mesh upper, and signature red zip tie. The rare Nike Off White Presto sneakers are an especially coveted Friends and Family edition, and come with an Air Presto Off White Friends & Family gift set containing four pairs of laces, a pencil case, and a notebook.
Nike Air Jordan 1 Retro High Chrome Hearts Off-White NRG
These specially commissioned Nike Air Jordan Off Whites upgrade the iconic Off White Jordan 1 with striking hardware from ultra-exclusive LA brand Chrome Hearts. According to Abloh, an existing idea need only be changed by 3% to become something entirely new. Chrome Hearts applies this philosophy to Abloh’s own design to create a luxe expression of the Nike Air Jordan Off White. Abloh’s signature touches—the zip tie, exposed foam, labeled shoelaces, and quotation-embedded text—get the Chrome Hearts treatment with branded dubrés, adjustable lace locks and metallic eyelets.
Nike Air Force 1 Low Off-White MCA University Blue Factory Misprint
To celebrate MOCA Chicago’s “Figures of Speech”—Abloh’s first solo museum exhibition—this exclusive Off White Air Force 1 MCA was released in extremely limited quantities. The shoe became an instant collectible, and today, the vibrant University Blue Air Force 1 Off White is easily one of the Off White Nike collab’s most sought-after grails. This unique Off White AF1 is rarer still, featuring a factory misprint. Off White branding, which typically adorns the Nike Air Force medial side, is printed on the lateral side of the left sneaker; the left AF1s lateral Swoosh is also missing the red rectangular tab.
Nike Air Force 1 Ssense x Virgil Abloh signed by Virgil Abloh
In 2018, Virgil Abloh joined forces with Canadian retailer SSENSE for an interactive exhibit, titled “CUTTING ROOM FLOOR,” at their Montreal flagship store. To mark the occasion, Abloh offered an exclusive white-on-white pair of Air Force 1 shoes, which he personally signed and dated. The classic Nike AF1—a notable inspiration for Abloh, and one he would return to time and again—is signed “Virgil” on the right lateral midsole, and is dated “2018” on the left.
Louis Vuitton Nike Air Force 1 Friends and Family University Blue
The Louis Vuitton Air Force 1, designed by Virgil Abloh, is one of the most coveted sneakers of all time—and one of the most pivotal in bridging the worlds of streetwear and high fashion. In early 2022, news broke of “The List”: a rarefied group of designers, athletes, musicians and others receiving exclusive Friends and Family pairs of the exclusive Louis Vuitton sneakers. Big names, from LeBron James to DJ Khaled to Eminem, were gifted with Air Force 1 Louis Vuitton shoes from a lineup of eight select colorways, including this University Blue iteration. These Louis Vuitton Air Force 1s feature solid bright blue uppers debossed with LV Monogram print, contrasted with white Swooshes, laces and midsoles.
Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 White
In June of 2022, the first hotly anticipated general release pairs of Abloh’s LV x Nike Air Force 1s became available to the public. Each Nike Louis Vuitton Air Force 1 from the nine-piece collection is embellished with Abloh’s signature quotation marks, and features tongue tags with Louis Vuitton branding. This tonal white edition—one of three monochromatic looks in the collection—presents a sleek and sophisticated take on the Nike Air Force 1 Louis Vuitton sneaker. Dressed in supple LV Monogram-embossed calfskin leather, the shoes pay homage to the iconic white-on-white Nike AF1. Gold accents are a subtle nod to the luxurious heritage of Louis Vuitton.
