Virgil Abloh
(Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)
Abloh, founder of Off-White is currently under fire for how he publicly addressed looters of RSVP Gallery and Vintage by Round Two Los Angeles.
Over the weekend, fans have been taking to social media to call out their favorite celebrities in an attempt to hold them accountable for their silence in the wake of nationwide protests. Following George Floyd’s violent death, fashion’s most popular black designer Virgil Abloh has been receiving fire for his response to riots and looting in Los Angeles.
Abloh, who has been heralded as a top designer in the streetwear community after creating Milan-based label Off-White posted a screenshot of a donation of $50. The amount was allegedly towards bail for protestors in Miami created by Fempower. This amount is merely laughable as Abloh is also the artistic director of Louis Vuitton Men’s.
Twitter users mainly those who focus on fashion in the black community pulled out receipts from 2016 and 2018. Their thoughts presented the fact that Abloh has been tone-deaf for years and that this isolated social media moment isn’t random. In the past, he’s stolen from emerging black talent and spoken on end about his thoughts on the high pricing of Off-White.
Additionally, Abloh voiced his opinions via social media on the looting done to Sean Wotherspoon’s Vintage by Round Two Los Angeles location. RSVP Gallery which Abloh has ties to was also looted, Don C, founder confirmed with Complex over the weekend.
Abloh on Round Two LA and RSVP Gallery’s looting:
“This is fucked up. You see the passion blood sweat and tears Sean puts in for our culture. This disgusts me. To the kids that ransacked his store and RSVP DTLA, and all the stores in our scene just know, that product staring at you in your home/ apartment right now is tainted and a reminder of a person I hope you aren’t.”
He also shared on Instagram that he doesn’t believe the looters are a part of the streetwear community, per the Guardian. “Streetwear is a community. It’s groups of friends that have a common bond. We hang out on street corners, fight with each other, fight for each other… Streetwear is a culture. ‘Streetwear’ is a commodity.”
On Monday, Abloh shared his thoughts on Instagram again. This time, he defended his donation amount by highlighting he was matching funds sent to him by his friends. “The $50 donation described in a recent screenshot was part of a matching funds movement of friends i follow in my timeline.” He added that he'd share the exact amount he's donated to numerous causes.
Photo Credit: Complex
Take a look at responses to Abloh's $50 donation below.
