Skip to main content

Virgil Abloh-Louis Vuitton Sneakers Fund Scholarships

Though Virgil Abloh left this Earth in November last year, the late designer continues to make an impact.

Two hundred pairs of Abloh-designed Louis Vuitton-Nike Air Force 1 trainers (and LV pilot case) are now open for bidding at Sotheby’s Auction. Sale funds will help to raise money for the late fashion influencer’s Post Modern scholarship fund. Seeing as the trainers are sitting at $32,000 with 20 bids in and 11 days to go, there promises to be a nice boost for recipients of Abloh’s philanthropy.

Related Videos
Nike x Louis Vuitton Air Force 1's.
Sotheby's

The mission of the Virgil Abloh Post-Modern Scholarship Fund is “to foster equity and inclusion within the fashion industry by providing scholarships to students of academic promise of Black, African-American, or African descent.” Launched in July 2020 after raising approximately $1 million to support the next generation of Black fashion leaders, inaugural 2021 recipients received $7,500 each toward their education and were paired with creative and marketing mentors at illustrious apparel firms.

Fashion in a Post-Modern - Highlight Reel

While at French fashion house Louis Vuitton, Abloh collaborated with Nike’s Air Force 1 project to develop the stylish and exclusive kicks. Representing the peak of luxury, the sneakers are sewn from calf leather and show off panels embellished with Louis Vuitton’s monogram. This pattern is set off by a tan and brown checkerboard print on the toes, the Nike logo, and a heel tab. A white sole is identified not only by Nike’s italic “Air” logo, but by a second, quote-wrapped, block-lettered “AIR” along the back of the sole. This brown font appears in the same colorway as the shoe bottoms.

Related Guides

Fat, cream-colored laces, identified on the ends by the word “Lacet,” lead up to the shoe’s tongue that sports a distinct, left tab, and a vertically aligned “Louis Vuitton” label floating above the Nike swoosh.

Prior to Abloh’s death, the late Louis Vuitton artistic director took a direct hand in organizing this Sotheby’s auction in New York City. His family and fellow organizers have made sure that the event proceeds in his absence.

Obviously not available to the everyday man, the rarefied runners represent the pinnacle of style — with a price that reflects their rare couture. Though the price is already in the tens of thousands of dollars, the extravagant kicks are likely to maintain their value. Heck, just the orange Louis Vuitton case that they arrive in can cost over $10,000.

This auction will kick off a series of 2022 series of events. And it’s just the first noteworthy footwear addition of the year to go under the Sotheby’s hammer, adding to the auction house’s long-standing selection of the world’s rarest and most coveted sneakers.

Bidding is open until February 8 at sothebys.com.

Read More: Fashion World Loses Crown Jewel With André Leon Talley’s Death

Editors' Recommendations

A$AP Nast and Lacoste Team Up For the Exclusive L001 Lux Sneaker
A$AP Nast and the L001 — inspired by the first ever shoe created by Rene Lacoste.

A$AP Nast and the L001 — inspired by the first ever shoe created by Rene Lacoste.

With the help of rapper and crocodile-tatted fan A$AP Nast, Lacoste recently launched its newest footwear: the L001. Inspired by a mix of the brand’s rich tennis heritage and modern shoemaking, the luxe shoe is sure to be a new classic from the French luxury brand. 

Read more
Your Guide to Handmade Shoes and Sneaker Brands
handmade shoes boots

Along with a suit and a watch, there are few pieces in a man’s wardrobe that bring a touch of style to his appearance like refined footwear.

But what's so special about handmade shoes? Aren't all shoes technically handmade? Well, no. Some are made entirely by robots and machines. Handmade shoes and sneakers, however, are meticulously crafted by experts set on ensuring an exceptional end result: a pair of kicks that prize longevity over short-term sufficiency. The materials used in handmade shoes are high-end, polished, and sophisticated. The best handmade shoes and sneakers are crafted using a combination of superlative stitching, top-quality materials, and dedicated, bespoke craftsmanship. A great pair of handmade shoes should fit like a glove and reflect your individuality while hopefully not breaking the bank.

Read more
Oliver Cabell’s New Phoenix Sneakers Are 3D-Printed With Recycled Plastic Bottles
Oliver Cabell Phoenix

We've adored Oliver Cabell sneakers since the brand was released in 2016. The independent footwear brand has been deep in hard-nosed research for the last two years, studying ways to mitigate the growing single-use plastic waste epidemic. Over 300 million tons of plastic are produced each year, and only about 9% of that plastic heads to recycling. The England-based shoemakers have found a method to help curb the madness with an innovative development that utilizes recycled plastic water bottles in new sneakers.

Previous

Read more