Virgil Abloh is a true Renaissance man. And now, the designer of Off-White—who is also the artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection, a DJ, an automotive designer , and an art curator—can add philanthropist to his bio.
Abloh designed a special edition of his popular Jitney 2.8 handbag in partnership with Christie’s for Bid for the Louvre, an auction that supports the Louvre Museum and The Louvre Studio, an artistic and cultural education space that is set to launch in fall 2021.
The Jitney 2.8—a structured, top-handle bag—made its debut in 2019 and featured Off-White’s crossed-arrows logo and phrases like cash inside and turn to open.
For the auction, Abloh removed the kitschy motifs, instead fabricating the bag from silver calfskin leather with diamond-shaped reliefs and shimmering mini paillettes, which are intended to reflect the Louvre’s iconic I.M. Pei–designed glass and metal pyramid