By Eddy Herty, VP, National Creative Director of OUTFRONT Studios at OUTFRONT Media
“It’s important to evolve and not sit in one space.” – Virgil Abloh
Yesterday, (Nov. 28, 2021) Virgil Abloh, Founder/CEO of Off-White and Louis Vuitton Creative Director, Entrepreneur, artist, DJ, fashion icon, etc, passed away from his fight with cancer at age 41.
Why is an out of home creative talking about this particular fashion icon? His hunger, his unapologetic quest to explore, collaborate, try things… truly believing the only hinderance we have on what we create is quite literally ourselves. Something many say, but not enough actually live.
Like his quote above says… it is important we are always evolving, questioning what and how we do things, pushing towards what’s next, so we can create better.
He was a fashion designer, yet below you see a picture of him at his art exhibit… (yes, that’s OUTFRONT’s imprint). Not being tied to one industry or path.
Not knowing the man personally, but just knowing his work… I admired his creative spirit, his confidence, knowing who he was and what he stood for, along with knowing what the brands he represented were, and what they stood for. In my opinion, that’s the core of his success, and frankly any creative.
Once you know what you, or a brand’s purpose, is there is a level of sincerity that comes with it… a truth.
We call that a brand’s truth. When you see it, you know it to be true, it connects, and it’s something you can engage with that will forever leave a lasting impression on you. Whether you were a fan of his work or not, that “TRUTH” of what he designed (clothes, art, etc) is something we all can appreciate… is something our audiences all do appreciate.
Whether you knew who Virgil Abloh was, or are just learning about him, it’s very clear, this is a man who chose his own path.
A man who embraced his own gifts and gave back to funds like the “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund. All-the-while, seemingly never letting people who didn’t appreciate his work slow him down, and in doing so, changing the fashion industry.
Like the industry I love (out of home)… he put it out there, in plain view for all to see. The same as what we hopefully try to do for thousands of clients every year.
Imagine if our clients showed, or at the very least, were always encouraged by us, their media partners, to wear their brand truth on their sleeve the way Virgil Abloh did?
Imagine if all of them saw the benefits to embracing their purpose in a confident, unapologetic way that visually screamed why they do what they do and how they benefit the communities around them… connecting with them and engaging them.
Imagine what an impression that would leave… it would change our industry, and theirs, “FOREVER”.
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