Flight 000, otherwise known as the cohort, departed on March 22 and returned on April 1.
), and a teen tour.
The days were packed and stacked; the access was amazing.
Jasir, Dereon, Jalen, Eric, Julian, Jasmin, Marlon, Jailynn, Aarion, and Moriah, members of the inaugural Flight 000 Abloh Air program
Abloh Air exists in part as a love story.
When he returned, he told her, I am going into the arts.
My whole life has changed.
Shannon Abloh joins the 10 students from Abloh’s hometown of Chicago who were chosen to partake in panels and hands-on workshops in London and Paris.
For many of the students it was their first time flying internationally.
Here Julien, Aarion, and Moriah join Benji B for a music production session.
Tremaine Emory of Denim Tears helped the students with their mood-boarding process.
Shannon joins students Aarion and Jasmine at their workshop at Metallic Inc.
Then came the Zoom interviews with the Foundation board including a specific question about Virgil.
I just wanted them to be authentically inspired by him.
He cared about keeping them open and making the impossible possible.
For many of the students it was their first time flying internationally. Here Julien, Aarion, and Moriah join Benji B for a music production session.
Even with my reduced itinerary, there was far too much material to include here.
Shopping at the Les Puces in Paris.
Thats one of the key things about travelopening your eyes, he said.
Tremaine Emory of Denim Tears helped the students with their mood-boarding process.
The only thing that should ever exist is surrendering to the greatest idea, he said.
Fabien Montique, Ross Westland and Billionaire Boys Club photo shoot.
Owning You
The point of Abloh Air was not to birth a new generation of Virgils.
Jasmin, Julian, Jailynn, Eric, Jalen, Moriah, Aarion, Marlon, Shannon Abloh, and Jasir at the Alaska Alaska Design Studio in London.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
This was an exercise in confidence building and the cultivation of individuality.
It makes you think of the future…
The students watched Arthur Jafa’s “Love is the Message, the Message is Death” (2016), at the Bourse de Commerce in Paris.
I want what I do to be tangible.
A panel with Martine Rose, Clint419, Sami Janjer, and Olivia Singer.
Fries in Chicago, chips in London, frites in Paris
Cultural discoveries were both subtle and obvious.
Shopping at the Les Puces in Paris.
French may not have been their strong suit, but they showed openness to just about everythingespecially the food.
Shannon said this was essential.
Upon reveal, some took a personal approach.
Fabien Montique, Ross Westland and Billionaire Boys Club photo shoot.
As Emory gave his feedback, he noted how mood-boards serve as tools of communication.
The human mind is abstract and needs to communicate with someone who doesnt have that idea.
This will determine the level of work you get back.
A panel with Martine Rose, Clint419, Sami Janjer, and Olivia Singer.
Flight 000 screen print the Abloh Air logo at the Pablo T-shirt factory in Paris.
For Shannon, Abloh Air has allowed everyone who interacted with him to harness his energy.
But when Im here, its a way that I feel closer to his work.
Flight 000 screen print the Abloh Air logo at the Pablo T-shirt factory in Paris.
That was such a big part of our life.
Next Flight
Like any pilot program, much was being learned in real time.
Meanwhile, the 000 cohort seemed supercharged, with what Selvendran called their battery pack.
The inaugural class, also known as Flight 000 of Abloh Air, with Sir Jony Ive at the Royal College of Arts.
Eric and Jalen, who already collaborate, said they will be off to the races once home.
In my head, I always thought this was possible.
But when you are seeing it, and youre actually doing it, its absolutely possible.
This is really us but its like a reassurance, helping us find our real passion.
I could tell them, I was in your shoes.
