Virgil Abloh: The Codes Returns for Paris Fashion Week in September 2025
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Even years removed from his untimely passing, Virgil Abloh’s work in the fashion and design world still looms large. The multi-hyphenate is most known for the Off-White label and the brand’s multiple collaborative efforts with Nike and Jordan Brand that began in 2017, essentially kickstarting the ultra-hypebeast era in sneakers. After his passing in November 2021, Nike and Abloh’s estate presented Virgil Abloh: The Codes in Miami during Art Basel 2022, giving us all insight into his design process, his archives, and unreleased Off-White x Nike and Jordan products. Now, according to Vogue, The Codes exhibit is back on, this time taking place in Paris during Fashion Week in September 2025.
Produced by Virgil Abloh Archive™ in partnership with Nike, the show will take over the 13,350 square feet of gallery space at the Grand Palais in Paris, France. Around 5% of the 20,000 objects in the archives, including prototypes, objects, images, sketches, and more, will be on full display.
“We want to showcase all the ways that Virgil thought. It’s his whole journey, and we want to make sure that people remember and see and are able to be present within that world of what he created,” said Athiththan Selvendran, COO of Virgil Abloh Securities, CCO of the Virgil Abloh Foundation, and Director of the Virgil Abloh Archive. “The power that [his work] has is for everyone—any single person who has some sort of creative energy.”
While the Miami event in 2022 focused on the architectural codes, this version of The Codes exhibit will delve much deeper into his overall design and work process, such as screenshots of WhatsApp brainstorming conversations, elements from his personal library and collection of objects, and more. Athiththan Selvendran also told Vogue that collaborators will help with the activations set around the event, which include workshops, performances, and screenings.
For sneakerheads, this may also be a way for us to get a glimpse as to what’s next for Off-White x Nike, as the partnership has essentially been on pause since the last release in 2023. This last project was two new colorways of the Air Terra Forma, Virgil's first and only original sneaker design for Nike. Prior to this, there were a slew of Off-White Air Force 1 Mid colorways in 2023, including the Graffiti, Rasheed Wallace, Varsity Maize, and Grim Reaper renditions.
We know that in Holiday 2025, there’s a new Off-White x Air Jordan 1 High Alaska releasing, and there’s supposedly a new Air Force 1 Low project, which was first teased at the original The Codes exhibit in Miami, set for Fall 2025.
If you’re going to be in Paris for Fashion Week later this year, you can attend the Virgil Abloh: The Codes exhibit between September 30 and October 10, 2025. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy attending concerts and catching the latest movies. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
