The long-awaited Virgil Abloh and Ikea collaboration is here. Just one month after Abloh was named Men’s Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton, the Off-White Creative Director debuted his “MARKERAD” furniture line with Ikea.
The unlikely pair first debuted a collaboration Frakta tote bag in June 2017, following the launch of a certain Balenciaga blue tote bag that bears a resemblance with Ikea’s Frakta shopping bag. Months later, Abloh shared on social media a navy Oriental rug that featured the phrase “KEEP OFF.” Yesterday, the Louis Vuitton Artistic Director unveiled his full collaboration at an undisclosed location in New York City.
Abloh walked viewers through the collection via livestream. The collection included previously seen pieces, such as the navy “KEEP OFF” rug and a version of the Frakta bag emblazoned with the word “SCULPTURE,” as well as new pieces such as a hand-shaved red rug featuring the word “BLUE,” a red, triangular door stop, wooden chairs, a second tote bag silhouette with the word “SCULPTURE,” and glass door cabinets that displayed the Abloh-designed Nike Air Presto sneakers.
The designer said that each piece is currently a prototype—the wooden chairs were displayed with prototype tags—and he awaits approval to take his designs further.
“MARKERAD” is Abloh’s latest foray in furniture. The designer launched a furniture line named The Framing Collection in 2016 and produced furniture with London furniture designer Max Lamb.
The collection is also the designer’s latest partnership, joining collaborations with Nike, Converse, Moncler, Jimmy Choo, Fragment Design, Levi’s Made & Crafted, Kith, Vans, Dr. Martens and Umbro among others. Abloh continues to expand the Off-White universe by collaborating with other labels in the luxury and mass markets.
And just when you think that you understand the Off-White philosophy, Abloh pulls out another surprise that changes how you perceive the label.
