When you hear the words “Virgil Abloh” and “NBA All-Star Weekend” it’s more than likely that your mind will immediately pander towards the forthcoming Off-White Jordan 5 collaboration. And while this is definitely going to be one of the bigger highlights of the weekend, the multi-talented designer is looking to impact the community in more ways than in just the sneaker/apparel space. With the festivities taking place in Chicago, the Illinois metropolis in which Abloh spent his upbringing, he has decided to team up with Nike and the Boys and Girls Club to Boys & Girls Clubs to refurbish the basketball facilities at the Martin Luther King Jr. chapter located in East Garfield Park.
The gymnasium, game rooms, and locker rooms have been given a full makeover by being physically modified with Virgil’s signature branding stamped to the floors, modernized furniture, and vivid energy present through its colorfully accented walls and floors. The state-of-the-art facilities aim to be a positive environment for the local youth community to come together and learn values of teamwork and a healthy lifestyle through sport and education.