Virgil Abloh started off the week in London, where he managed to beat out both Vetements and Supreme in the Urban Luxe Brand category with his label Off-White at the British Fashion Awards, joining his hero Raf Simonsâwho once dismissed his designs as âunoriginalââin the eveningâs award winners. That was on Monday, but fast-forward about 24 hours, and the designer-DJ-multitasker extraordinaire was already in Miami Beach for Art Basel, where he first hit the opening of Pradaâs pop-up nightclub before playing so many DJ sets over the next few days that heâs lost count, culminating on Friday, when he performed at Marriottâs party for its Storybooked series, and also a party for the Surf Lodgeâs pop-up where he was joined on stage by 2 Chainz. One he definitely remembers, though, was a night with Drake for which the pair also designed an army of artsy drones. But soon it was on to an event with Beats by Dreâyet another set at a party, this time in collaboration with Dial Up, a new project Abloh started with his friend Pedro Cavaliere to give a ânew draw to nightlife.â (Partiers have to call up a number in order to find out information about the party and RSVP.)
Even though he also once set up a number with a voicemail of himself explaining one of his Off-White collections, Abloh, for the record, isnât much of a phone talker himself. âI try to talk on the phone as little as possible,â he said from the device heâs nonetheless glued to at all times, as he made more than clear in his culture diet. He talks everything from his latest collaboration with the artist Jenny Holzer to benefit Planned Parenthoodâwhich, yep, he somehow also launched this weekâto his movie- and book-free lifestyle, here.
How did you end up designing drones with Drake? We were going to do a performance together, and you know, for me, Art Basel Miami is a merger of a lot different creative disciplines at once and about all the interactions around that. So me and Drake, from the generation we are, were looking to make things interesting and decided to add an art element and overall art direction to the performance. We actually composed it weeks prior.
What have been your go-to songs since youâve been DJing in Miamiâand just how many sets have you played so far? I donât even know. I lost count, but definitely a handful. Iâve been playing a lot of Pharrell. To me, itâs a good vibe for Miami.
Getting into the culture diet questions, whatâs the first thing you read in the morning? Instagram. No particular accountsâI just follow an insane amount of people. I think I literally follow like 4,000. Thatâs the magic of Instagram, to see not one account in particular.
What books have you been traveling with, or keeping on your bedside table? You know, Iâm usually just on on my phone or in my phone.
What TV show has been keeping you up at night? Luther on Netflix was probably the last show I watched the most.
Do you ever make it to the movie theater? Whatâs the last movie you saw there? Nah, my lifestyle doesnât really account for movies. I canât even remember what I last saw.
Whatâs the last piece of art you bought? Iâm mostly into buying art from friends. I like to keep it vagueâjust whatever I find intriguing. Iâm into buying young artists that I usually collaborate with or are friends of friends. Thereâs this kid named Alec Martin Iâve liked lately.
Is there anything youâve been eyeing at Art Basel? A few things here and thereâIâm still looking. Thereâs a Nicole Wermers piece that I like a lot at Jessica Silverman Gallery that I think is really cool.
Whatâs the last museum or gallery show that you loved? I try to visit the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Iâm doing a show there in 2019 so Iâm there regularly now.
Whatâs the last clothing item you bought? I was just in Japan, shoppingâI got some sort of graphic t-shirt.
Speaking of graphic tees, can you tell me more about your latest collab with Jenny Holzer? Graphic t-shirts have such an importance and resonance nowâitâs like wearable art, art that communicates a message in a format that people can understand. We have a great relationship so this just came out of a conversation.
Jenny Holzer x Virgil Abloh for Sexy Beast [for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles](https://sexybeast.org/collections/shop).
Itâs pretty amazing that you collaborated so closely earlier this year but only met in person this summer. How did you settle on the word âflowersâ to replace âpowerâ in her most famous truism, âAbuse of Power Comes as No Surpriseâ? Youâd have to speak with Jenny about that, but I donât think she gives interviews. We first connected when I reached out through a mutual contact.
What music have you been keeping on repeat? Lil Uzi Vert.
Whatâs the last concert you went to, besides one were you performed? BadBadNotGood in New York.
Whatâs the last thing you googled? Closest matcha shop to meâŠ..
How do you recover from Art Basel? A quick trip home, only to take on another packed week.
Whatâs the last thing you do before you go to bed? Charge my phone.
At Art Basel Miami, Art Enthusiasts and Party Crashers Alike Break Out Their Boldest Prints And Flashiest Colors
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday, December 5th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday, December 5th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday, December 5th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday, December 5th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Patrick Parrish gallery director Zoe Fisher with work by Chris Wolston at the Design Miami fair during Art Basel Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday, December 5th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday, December 5th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday, December 5th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday, December 5th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday, December 5th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday, December 5th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday, December 5th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday, December 5th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday, December 5th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday, December 5th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday, December 5th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday, December 5th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Wednesday, December 6th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Wednesday, December 6th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Wednesday, December 6th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Wednesday, December 6th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Wednesday, December 6th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Wednesday, December 6th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Wednesday, December 6th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Wednesday, December 6th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Wednesday, December 6th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Wednesday, December 6th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Wednesday, December 6th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Wednesday, December 6th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Wednesday, December 6th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Street style around Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida on Wednesday, December 6th. Photo by Simbarashe Cha for W Magazine.
Related: How Virgil Abloh Became the King of Social Media Superinfluencers
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