Louis Vuitton artistic director Virgil Abloh, who died in 2021 from a rare cancer, would have been 45 years old on September 30, the date on which McIntosh presented a unique amplifier at the Grand Palais in his honor.
Tribute to Virgil Abloh, McIntosh speaks££££
“Virgil Abloh considered music to be much more than just a sound, it was a cultural language,” explains McIntosh. “In his studio at Louis Vuitton, McIntosh audio equipment helped to punctuate his creative process.” In 2020, the designer and the American manufacturer had planned to design an audio device together, a project unfortunately delayed by the pandemic, then canceled following Abloh’s death.
This concept model is a final posthumous tribute to this partnership made too soon, finished in a vibrant orange, "a color used by Virgil to signal energy, visibility, and disruption. Creating this concept was a passion project for the entire McIntosh team," says the manufacturer. "Every element of the amplifier had to be reimagined through Virgil's eyes, especially how to bring his signature orange to life on our amplifier. This wasn't just a design challenge; it was a creative responsibility. Honoring his vision was a privilege for everyone involved."
