01IN 2017, LOUIS VUITTON, THE POSHEST NAME IN LUXURY, TEAMED UP WITH
SUPREME, A NEW YORK SKATE BRAND. THE COLLABORATION SOLD OUT
INSTANTLY AND CHANGED FASHION. THE MAN BEHIND IT WAS KIM JONES, THE
QUIET ARCHITECT OF LUXURY STREETWEAR.
02HE HAD BEEN BUILDING TO IT FOR YEARS. JONES RAN LOUIS VUITTON'S
MENSWEAR FROM 2011, SLOWLY BRINGING SNEAKERS, TRAVEL AND STREET
ENERGY INTO A TRUNK-MAKER'S WORLD. THE SUPREME DEAL WAS THE MOMENT
THE TWO SIDES OFFICIALLY BECAME ONE.
03THEN HE SCALED IT UP. IN 2018 JONES TOOK OVER DIOR MEN AND TURNED
IT INTO A CULTURAL POWERHOUSE, COLLABORATING WITH ARTISTS LIKE
DANIEL ARSHAM AND MUSICIANS LIKE TRAVIS SCOTT. HE REPORTEDLY GREW
DIOR MEN'S REVENUE TOWARD DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS.
04AND HE DID TWO HOUSES AT ONCE. FROM 2020 JONES ALSO DESIGNED
FENDI'S WOMENSWEAR IN ROME WHILE RUNNING DIOR MEN IN PARIS, ONE OF
THE HARDEST-WORKING SCHEDULES IN FASHION. FEW DESIGNERS HAVE
CARRIED TWO MAJOR HOUSES AT THE SAME TIME.
05HIS GIFT IS CONNECTING CULTURES. JONES GREW UP MOVING AROUND AFRICA
AND COLLECTING RARE STREETWEAR AND BOOKS; HE SPEAKS FLUENTLY TO
SKATERS AND ARTISANS ALIKE. HE MADE THE COLLABORATION, ARTIST PLUS
LUXURY HOUSE, INTO A STANDARD FASHION MOVE.
06THAT IS WHY HE MATTERS. MORE THAN ALMOST ANYONE, KIM JONES BUILT THE
BRIDGE BETWEEN THE STREET AND THE SALON THAT FASHION WALKED ACROSS
FOR A DECADE. QUIET IN PERSON, ENORMOUS IN INFLUENCE, THE ARCHITECT
PLENTY OF PEOPLE CANNOT NAME.