Virgil Abloh and Nike launch NikeLab Chicago Re-Creation Center

By

Gabriella Lacombe

Published
Jun 5, 2019

Nike and Virgil Abloh have teamed up to launch the NikeLab Chicago Re-Creation Center', a temporary "cultural hub" where youth can gain access to fashion and design mentorship.

Located at 673 N. Michigan Avenue, the center will offer a variety of workshops, giveback programs and exclusive product, according to Nike. All programming is targeted toward youth in the Chicago area, in Abloh’s home state of Illinois.

According to a Hypebae report, Abloh’s personally-selected list of workshop hosts will include Chuck Anderson, Paul Octavious, Alyx Harch, Thomas Kelley, Carrie Norman, Ann Lui and Craig Reschke, with subjects set to cover brand identity, fabric design, graphic design, photography and more.

The space will also highlight Nike’s 'Reuse-a-Shoe' initiative, Hypebae said. The Reuse-a-Shoe program takes recycled Nike footwear and transforms it into Nike Grind, a collection of recycled materials that has previously been used by Abloh and the athleticwear company to design a community basketball court in Chicago.

The hub opened on May 31, and will run through July 28, 2019. Workshop sign-ups will be available via SNKRS, Nike’s app.

Later this month, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago will present Virgil Abloh: 'Figures of Speech', the first museum exhibition devoted to the work of Virgil Abloh. The exhibition will run from June 10 through September 22, 2019.

For Nike, the project comes shortly after the company’s partnership with four top female designers - including Yoon Ahn, Christelle Kocher, Erin Magee and Marine Serre - to create a range of football jerseys for this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.