An Exploration of Skate Culture.
Last night Off-White invited fans of the brand and skate culture to celebrate the release of its “VULC 779” sneaker with a conversation that deep dived into the exploration of how powerful an influence skate culture has been in pop culture over the last few decades.
One of four celebrations that took place this month, the event centred around skate culture, which is a prominent theme for Off-White. The brand, birthed in 2013 by the late great Virgil Abloh, has continuously focused on creating garments with a recurrent backstory and an emphasis on identity by design.
Industry expert Nate Jobe – sneaker designer at Off-White – spoke to us on the night about the inspiration behind the “VULC 779” sneaker, working with Abloh, his design process and the work ethic he established in the brand, which is still practised today.
“The whole process of designing the sneaker is my favourite,” he says, “seeing the shoe from concept, to design to finished product. That’s something myself and Virgil shared; the love of the process.”
The “VULC 779” sneaker is a nod to designer Virgil Abloh’s roots, taking its name from the area code of his hometown in Rockford City, Illinois. Abloh’s dedication to skateboarding is evident in the shoe’s design. Key areas exposed to the board, like the toe cap, heel cup, and sole, are reinforced with strategic material and colour blocking. The sneaker launched earlier this month in four colourways: Black-Black, Army Green-Blue, White-Beige, and Dark Grey-Ice.
“It’s a great honour and privilege to be in this position and be able to still celebrate V and have his vision as part of our daily conversation. He was always 3 steps ahead, and this project is proof of that. When I was first approached by Cristiano Fagnani and the team about this shoe I was thrilled for it to come to life but needed to make sure the timing was just right,” says Ib Kamara, Artistic Director of the brand in a recent press release.
The event ended with an insightful viewing of several vintage skate videos, followed by a talk with current pro skaters that allowed members of the Off-White community the opportunity to hear their stories and views on how much of an influence skate culture has influenced pop culture and fashion over the years.
PHOTO CREDIT: OFF-WHITE
