BURTON is proud to announce its second collaboration with renowned artist, designer and visionary Virgil Abloh. The BURTON c/o Virgil Abloh™ collection, developed in collaboration with Virgil Abloh over the past two years, includes 10 exclusive snowboards that will be auctioned digitally on March 15th by the Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund. Then, on March 22nd, a limited-edition collection of snowboards, boots and bindings also created in collaboration with Abloh will be available for purchase on Burton.com. To celebrate Abloh’s life and legacy, BURTON will donate $300,000 over three years to organizations that advance BIPOC’s representation in snowboarding.
Virgil Abloh grew up snowboarding! In 2017, he first visited BURTON’s Vermont headquarters to get inspiration for a collaboration with the snowboard brand and its Off-White™ brand in women’s outerwear. In late 2020, BURTON spoke to Abloh again about future projects.
“It was very important to Virgil that his next collaboration with Burton convey a larger message, so he created a manifesto to guide the collection,” said Adrian Josef Margelist, Burton’s chief creative officer. “Everyone who worked on this project, from the snowboard designers to the project managers to the riders at the photo shoot, took Virgil’s words to heart. They became our manifesto, our mantra, our motivation. Virgil’s words push it best off.”
Abloh’s Manifesto is the graphic centerpiece of the ten exclusive snowboards being auctioned digitally by the Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund. Virgil aims to “promote equity and inclusion in the fashion industry by providing scholarships to academically gifted students of Black, African American or African descent”. The manifesto also aligns with BURTON’s brand values and commitment to equity, equality, diversity and inclusion to advance the long-term wellbeing of the company, sport and community.
To understand the importance of representation in snowboarding and Virgil’s Manifesto, BURTON Team Riders Brolin Mawejje and Zeb Powell share their perspective. Brolin said, “The manifesto says it very clearly. It’s not just an idea; it’s more than just a conversation. It’s a reality. We’re watching it happen and we will continue to watch the sport of snowboarding grow .”
BURTON Team Rider Zeb Powell added, “I’m trying to leave my impact on snowboarders the way Virgil left it on me. Keeping up with me. Taking the time to talk to me means a lot to me much.” Finally, Brolin said, “Be like Virgil. Be the gatekeepers who can open those gates wider so more kids can pour in and be part of the culture.”
ABOUT VIRGIL ABLOH
Born in Rockford, Illinois, Virgil Abloh was an artist, architect, engineer, creative director, artistic director, industrial designer, fashion designer, musician, DJ, and philanthropist. After graduating with a degree in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he earned a master’s degree in architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago. While studying a design curriculum designed by Mies van der Rohe at the IIT, Abloh began to develop the principles of his artistic practice. The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago presented a major touring exhibition of Abloh’s work in the summer of 2019 – one of the best-attended exhibitions in the museum’s history. Abloh was Chief Creative Director and Founder of Off-White™ and Men’s Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton.
ABOUT BURTON
BURTON was founded in 1977 by Jake Burton Carpenter in a barn in Vermont, USA. From then on, Jake dedicated his life to snowboarding, and BURTON is an integral part of its history. Innovative product lines, a team of top riders, and Jake’s drive to embrace and advance snowboarding continue to define the brand to this day. BURTON designs and manufactures market-leading products for snowboarding and the outdoor lifestyle that goes with it. As one of the sustainability leaders in snow and outdoor sports, BURTON is the first snowboard company to receive B Corporation® certification. BURTON is privately owned by Donna Carpenter and is still headquartered in Burlington, Vermont, USA. BURTON’s European headquarters have been in Innsbruck since the mid-eighties.