Virgil Abloh: Kanye's Best Man And Creative Confidant

Virgil Abloh and Kanye West were close friends and collaborators. They met in 2002 and interned at Fendi together in 2009. Kanye later appointed Virgil as the creative director of his agency, DONDA. Virgil was also a groomsman at Kanye's wedding to Kim Kardashian in 2014.

Virgil Abloh and Kanye West interned at Fendi together in 2009

Virgil Abloh and Kanye West first met in 2002 when Virgil was doing his undergrad. They instantly clicked and went on to work together on several projects, including Mascotte, Pastelle, Donda Creative, and Yeezy. Virgil also worked on stage design for Kanye's tours and on his collaborations with Louis Vuitton and Nike.

In 2009, the pair interned together at Fendi in Rome, Italy. They were placed in the company's Rome office and earned $500 a month. During this time, Virgil and Kanye were also working on Kanye's album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. While they didn't do much actual designing, the internship was an important learning experience for the pair, who went on to have hugely successful careers in fashion.

In fact, Virgil Abloh credits this internship with sparking his interest in fashion. In an interview, he said:

> "When I was studying architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology, the student center was just getting finished by OMA, the firm run by [architect] Rem Koolhaas. One of the mentors that was giving lectures on campus was a man named Michael Rock. Rem and Michael together made up two-thirds of the think tank surrounding Prada. That's how I first made the bridge between architecture and fashion."

Following their internship, Virgil Abloh and Kanye West remained close friends and continued to collaborate on various projects. Virgil was one of Kanye's groomsmen at his wedding, and Kanye was present at Virgil's funeral following his death in 2021.

Virgil was Kanye's assistant creatively, helping him realise his ambitions beyond music

Virgil Abloh was not just a famous rapper's best man at his wedding; he was a creative assistant and a key figure in helping Kanye West realize his ambitions beyond music. Abloh and West had a deep and complex working relationship, with Abloh often described as a "creative consigliere" to the rapper. Their collaboration went far beyond music, as they worked together to build a fashion and design empire.

Abloh, a talented designer and architect in his own right, first met West in the early 2000s while they were both working in the Chicago music scene. They quickly formed a close bond, with Abloh becoming a trusted advisor to West. As West began to expand his creative endeavors, Abloh played a crucial role in helping him develop and execute his ideas.

One of their most notable collaborations was the creation of the Yeezy fashion line. Abloh served as the creative director for the brand, helping to translate West's unique vision into a successful and influential fashion label. The pair also worked together on a range of other projects, including album artwork, stage design, and even architecture. For example, Abloh contributed to the design of West's controversial 'Wyoming' listening parties, creating an immersive experience for fans.

Beyond these specific projects, Abloh provided a sounding board for West's ideas and helped him to develop a clear creative vision. He played a critical role in West's transition from musician to designer, offering guidance and support. Abloh's own experience in fashion and design, as well as his architectural training, proved invaluable to West as he navigated these new creative fields. Their relationship demonstrates the importance of collaborative partnerships in bringing ambitious creative projects to life.

So, while their personal relationship was significant, with Abloh serving as best man at West's wedding, it was their creative partnership that had a truly lasting impact on both of their careers. Through their collaboration, they pushed boundaries, challenged conventions, and left an indelible mark on the worlds of fashion, music, and design.

Virgil was one of Kanye's groomsmen at his wedding to Kim Kardashian

Virgil Abloh and Kanye West were close friends and collaborators. They first met in 2002 when Virgil was studying for his undergraduate degree in civil engineering. Virgil worked on Kanye's tours, art, and collaborations with Nike and Louis Vuitton. In 2009, they both interned at Fendi, and Kanye later named Virgil the creative director of his agency, DONDA. Virgil was also one of Kanye's groomsmen at his wedding to Kim Kardashian in 2014.

The two had a close and collaborative friendship, but their relationship broke down in 2018 when Virgil accepted the position of artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear collection. Kanye had previously been offered the role and felt betrayed by Virgil's acceptance of the job. Despite this, Virgil and Kanye remained close, and Virgil continued to support Kanye through his struggles with mental health.

Virgil Abloh passed away in 2021, and Kanye dedicated his Sunday Service to him, performing reworkings of Drake's "God's Plan" and Adele's "Easy on Me."

Virgil and Kanye cried together at the end of Virgil's first Louis Vuitton show

Virgil Abloh and Kanye West's friendship goes back to the early 2000s. They first met when Virgil was studying for his undergraduate degree in civil engineering, and they instantly clicked. Virgil worked on Kanye's tours and album art, and the pair even interned at Fendi together in 2009. Virgil was also the creative director of Kanye's agency, DONDA.

In 2018, Virgil Abloh was appointed the artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear collection, making him the first African-American to hold the position. Virgil's first collection for Louis Vuitton Men's was presented in Paris, with Kanye West in attendance, sitting in the front row alongside his wife, Kim Kardashian West.

At the end of the show, Virgil and Kanye shared a touching moment, embracing and crying on the runway. This was an emotional moment for the pair, as Virgil had taken on the role at Louis Vuitton that Kanye had once been in line for. Kanye had suffered a breakdown, and the job had been given to Virgil instead. Despite this, Virgil and Kanye remained close friends, and Kanye was extremely proud of Virgil's achievement.

The video of the pair hugging can be viewed on Louis Vuitton's livestream, and it is a beautiful moment that showcases the deep bond between the two men.

Virgil and Kanye's relationship was like estranged brothers

Virgil Abloh and Kanye West's relationship was a close one, with Abloh even serving as a groomsman at West's wedding. The two first met in 2002 and clicked instantly. They worked together on several projects, including West's albums and tours, and Abloh was appointed the creative director of West's agency, DONDA, in 2010.

However, their relationship became strained in 2018 when Abloh accepted the position of artistic director at Louis Vuitton, a job that West had been working towards and felt was rightfully his. This incident created conflicting emotions between the two, with West feeling betrayed by his friend and Abloh feeling proud of his new role. From 2018 to 2021, their relationship could be likened to that of estranged brothers, with a mix of love, hurt, and conflicting emotions. They didn't spend much time together during this period, but they still shared a close bond behind the scenes, as only brothers can.

Despite the tension, West was one of the few people who knew about Abloh's cancer diagnosis and was his first and biggest defender during the copying drama in 2020. Abloh, on the other hand, remained supportive of West, even designing the original cover for Pop Smoke's album, "Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon," which was produced by West.

While their relationship had its ups and downs, it is clear that Virgil Abloh and Kanye West shared a deep and complex bond that spanned over two decades.

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