The mood of the Fashion Industry was sombre across the world with the passing away of Virgil Abloh, the Artistic Director of Luis Vuitton Men’s Wear and the founder of his own brand Off-White, yesterday.
As reported by New York Times, Virgil Abloh was a path breaking, barrier breaking Black designer, who with his unabashed creative skills carved a niche for himself in the Industry. Such was his impact that a year earlier he was allowed to work across all 75 brands from the Luis Vuitton stable and indeed he had become one of the most powerful executives at Luis Vuitton. Virgil Abloh was just 41.
While reading about Virgil in the morning today, another young designer and one of our very own, who passed away at the age of 35 only, the elegant and suave Rohit Khosla came rushing to my mind. Born 12 years apart, Rohit and Virgil, both worked in the same industry at different times, at different locations and with different cultures. Their upbringing too was rather different. One hailed from a rich Punjabi family and the other born in America to immigrant Ghanaian parents.
However there was also a lot in common between Rohit and Virgil. Apart from being well educated, both of them had a penchant for creativity, had the belief to bring about a change and had the courage to take risks. As much as Virgil Abloh has achieved, Rohit Khosla too made a telling impact on the Fashion and Couture scene in India and it would be fair to say that he pioneered the Indian Fashion Industry and in my opinion he was the First Fashion Designer India had.
To a large extent, it is only because of him that Fashion in India came to be known as a creative expression and undoubtedly he spearheaded and nurtured the Industry when it was in its nascent stage. Rohit Bal, JJ Valaya and a few other big names in the Fashion Industry today have been under studies to Rohit Khosla. This unsung Hero of India’s Fashion history, died young (in 1994), leaving behind a legacy on which the Fashion Industry is thriving now.
Not just Virgil’s passing away, but my respect for creativity too, has triggered today’s blog. Both Rohit Khosla and Virgil Abloh with their hugely creative mindsets have given a lot to society. Not only they have made garments an impregnable part of styling and personality building, they have created huge opportunities for entrepreneurship and employment. Very importantly they have added value to the cause of others which in my view is a mighty contribution to society.
Virgil and Rohit : short lives….deep impacts.
RIP.
Impressive