Nike x Off-White "Football, Mon Amour" - Enter now at END. Launches

25 April 2019

Abloh presents his expression of the beautiful game.

Melding his instantly recognisable visual language with a fervent passion for the beautiful game, Virgil Abloh presents his latest collaborative effort with Nike for Summer 2018.

Commemorating the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia, Abloh uses this collection, dubbed “Football, Mon Amour”, as a vehicle to blend memories of his youth – playing hip-hop on his way to high school football matches – with his ever-evolving interest in mixing lifestyle and sports.

The result is a progressive, future-facing 16-piece collection that is distinctly familiar in its reference points and visual alchemy. Bold as it is considered and packed full of nuanced style cues, his collection is predicated on the visceral.

The great thing about the vocabulary and history of football is that aesthetically it has its own look. I was always inspired by the way European teams have a sponsor printed over the chest. When I was working on this collection, I wanted to celebrate the different variants of typography.- VIRGIL ABLOH -

This distinct aesthetic Abloh refers to is celebrated and elevated to the highest possible echelons. Utilising a monochromatic palette of black and white, vibrantly punctuated with vivid orange accents, the collection breathes new life into football’s traditional kits, the simplicity of the “HOME” kit counteracted by the arresting design of the “AWAY” alternative, with subtle nods to iconic Czech strips of bygone eras.

As you would expect, reference points are visibly prevalent throughout the collection. The team’s logo, a lion juggling dots, pays homage to ubiquitous crests and the pattern of dots Abloh formed when thinking about how to explain the optimal place on the foot to strike a ball, whilst all the numbers used in the collection are those worn by Abloh during his playing days

The collection is finalised with the catalyst of the whole range itself, the Flyknit Zoom Fly. Inspired by Abloh’s retina-rattling rendition of the iconic Mercurial boot, the lightweight runner is constructed using Nike’s innovative flyknit technology and features the same optimal strike zone dots that have pride of place on the team crest.

Now live on END. Launches, experience Virgil Abloh’s vision for yourself at the END. Nike x Off-White “POP-UP” in London on Thursday 14th June 2018, where you will have the opportunity to pick-up your order and get your hands on a limited edition zine and a giveaway NK Magia football from the collection while stocks last.

END. Nike x Off-White “POP-UP”

Stepney Studios

174-178 Mile End Rd.

London

E1 4LJ

writerDavid Dover