Sotheby’s is pleased to announce By “Virgil” | Louis Vuitton & (RED), a single lot online auction of a prototype Louis Vuitton ‘LV Trainer’ pair of sneakers, created and signed by legendary designer Virgil Abloh, in benefit of the pioneering HIV/AIDS charitable organization (RED).
First presented during Virgil Abloh’s debut Spring-Summer 2019 show for Louis Vuitton, the LV Trainer has become a staple menswear sneaker. Flirting with nostalgia and borrowing its lines from basketball shoes, the Louis Vuitton I (RED) LV Trainer features embossed Monogram on white leather with bright red piping and details. Monogram flowers are embedded across the sole of the low-top sneaker. Made in Italy, the LV Trainer is innovative and entirely embellished with Louis Vuitton House codes while nodding to (RED)’s signatures and powerful messaging.
Personally signed by Men’s Artistic Director Virgil Abloh, the one-of-a-kind sneaker stays true to its name: men’s size 9 UK is the standard Louis Vuitton prototype shoe size and the side grid on this pair is unicolored in bright red, later adjusted to white by Virgil Abloh for the actual production launch.
Sotheby’s and Louis Vuitton are proud to offer this auction in support of (RED)*, which to date has generated over $650 million for the Global Fund to support HIV/AIDS grants primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. Global Fund grants that (RED) supports have impacted 180 million people with prevention, treatment, counseling, HIV testing and care services. Today, (RED) money continues to support these programs as well as efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on critical health services for the world’s most vulnerable.
*100% of the Hammer price and 100% of the Buyers Premium will go to the Global Fund to fight AIDS with (RED). A 1% Overhead Premium will be retained by Sotheby’s to cover baseline sale costs. No portion of the purchase price is tax-deductible.
