Interview: fashion is art, says creative director Virgil Abloh

"I first became interested in fashion as a teenager. I was very much into niche cultures such as skateboarding and hip hop. Both of these have a definitive look and style, so it was a natural progression that I became interested in fashion through those two worlds.

I originally studied to be an architect. Both disciplines are related in my mind, as they are creative outlets. I started in architecture in order to learn a formal process of how to design. I transitioned into fashion as a way to see my ideas come to life more quickly. My ideas are still informed by my architectural background and that way of making things.

I see fashion as art. It is a medium. And collaborations are the exciting part of creativity. I am into visual art and graphics; in my fashion, theory can play a big part. My first fashion role was as creative director for Kanye West and his creative content company, Donda. West is the most influential modern artist; his creativity is unmatched. He deserves all the credit for his brand, because he is the visionary behind it.

I also worked at Fendi, which was a look under the hood of fashion. It gave me an understanding of how the highest tier of the fashion industry works on a day-to-day basis. Every creative project I have worked on since has been vital in shaping who I am. As a creative person, my goal is to find these outlets.

I talk a lot about the luxury of being a novice [in the industry]. Because of that, I naturally break and make my own rules. It gives me a sort of freedom.