Rockford Native On Time’s 100 Most Influential People List

We've already reported his amazing rise in the world of fashion, but this is taking it to a-whole-nother level. Making this list is NOT easy. And, he's one of only TWO designers named.

Virgil Abloh, Rockford native and new Louis Vuitton designer, has been named to Time's Magazines 100 Most Influential People List.

According to GQ.com, "Designers have made Time’s list before: former J.Crew executive Jenna Lyons, in 2013; former Céline designer Phoebe Philo, in 2014, along with new Burberry designer Riccardo Tisci; and Guo Pei, the Chinese designer behind Rihanna’s Met Gala gown, in 2016. Their cases were pretty cut-and-dry: Lyons brought well-designed clothes to the masses, Tisci was hailed as the designer of the moment, and Guo Pei made a thunderous statement with her canary yellow dress. Abloh stands for something greater: he’s symbolic of a whole seachange in the fashion industry, where sneakers are suddenly the most covetable style objects on the planet, Supreme is a CFDA award nominee, and fashion conglomerate LVMH puts serious money into the sneaker consignors at Stadium Goods."

You can read more at GQ.com, but we wanted to acknowledge this great accomplishment. Congrats Virgil, Rockford is proud of you!