I want to be known and I want to embedded in the work that I was awake during these times

in that there's an optimism ahead.

It's extraordinary how the paths of access to the fashion industry aren't really publicized.

And this is what your initiative plans to do, isn't it?

I took the position that I am with a conviction to change the industry, not necessarily

take on the task of changing it as a singular entity, but leading by example, existing by example.

Hi, this is Imran Ahmed, founder and CEO of the Business of Fashion. Welcome to the Bof

podcast. This week on Inside Fashion, our editor-at-large Tim Blank speaks to Virgil Ablo, the creative director

of Louis Vuitton's menswear collections and the founder of breakthrough label Offwhite.

Virgil tells Tim that when he first broke into the fashion industry, he remembers feeling a bit like a tourist.

Now, of course, he is very much part of the establishment.

In the latest episode of Inside Fashion, Virgil talked about how he wants to use his position in the fashion industry to create a more democratic and inclusive industry.

Here's Virgil Ablo, Inside Fashion.

Virgil, it's good to see you in Snowchoked Chicago.

Likewise, Tim. Good to see you as well.

So I have been immersed in imaginary TV for the last day.

And it's interesting, we were just talking a little while ago about the difference that this year is made to everybody, living under the shroud of a pandemic.

And imaginary TV would not have happened without this last year, would it?

No, not in the slightest. And I think, you know, what marks the time is obviously like a pandemic has

run through our previously existing life, right? And in response to that, I as a participant in the

fashion industry, wanted to use the time to sort of be thoughtful,

but also sort of give an optimistic sort of trajectory to these, like, very uncertain times.

...