Founders – Virgil & Shannon Abloh 

Born and raised in Rockford, Illinois, Virgil and Shannon Abloh were partners in life and work for over two decades. Fueled by a deep belief in the power of creativity and collaboration to inspire future generations and drive positive change, the couple’s philanthropic and advocacy efforts have focused on investing in underrepresented youth and cultural leaders interested in pursuing creative careers and building more accessible and equitable creative industries.As an artist, architect, engineer, creative director, artistic director, industrial designer, fashion designer, musician, DJ, and philanthropist, Virgil was a prolific collaborator, multi-hyphenate and creative visionary. He founded the iconic brand Off-White in 2013 and was the Creative Director of Louis Vuitton menswear from 2018-2021; the first Black person to serve in the role at Louis Vuitton. His creative collaborations and studios often served as a launchpad for emerging underrepresented creatives, in line with Virgil’s lifelong mission to open doors and break down barriers for young aspiring creatives to make their own way in the industry as he had.Similarly, the Abloh family’s philanthropic work has focused primarily on expanding access and opportunities for Black creatives through programs like the Virgil Abloh Post Modern Scholarship Fund, an initiative housed within the Fashion Scholarship Fund that launched in 2020 with partners like LVMH, Nike and many others. Since its launch, the Post Modern program has supported 100 students and is set to support 60 students annually, providing a lifetime of professional support through the FSF, with industry mentors, a wide range of professional development events, connections to internships and employment, and access to a network and community of support.After a hard-fought battle with cancer, Virgil passed away in 2021. His lifelong mission and commitment to increasing access, equity, and opportunity for underrepresented young creatives and cultural leaders live on through the Virgil Abloh Foundation, founded by Shannon Abloh. Shannon also serves as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Virgil Abloh Securities, a creative company dedicated to upholding the far-reaching creative practices and projects of Virgil across art, architecture, engineering, creative direction, art direction, industrial design, fashion design, music, film, writing, and philanthropy. She was named one of the 2022 WWD Women in Power, an annual list celebrating the women in power who are impacting their businesses and communities.