“[Virgil Abloh has] become such an inspiration to so many people. But also he made it look easy,” Eugene Rabkin says (37:53, emphasis added). It’s not. I think down the line, Virgil is going to be indirectly responsible for a lot of streetwear lines who came on the scene and then went out of business a year later. There are a lot of kids who are like, “Oh, well, this looks easy.” And it is incredibly hard. Incredibly hard.”

This level of sprezzatura is important to luxury, and cultivating the image of creative genius. But it’s hardly ever true. Virgil Abloh, Pharrell, and every other creative director might make their work look effortless, and they’re hiding the brushstrokes so that we can enjoy the show. 

They’re being swans; graceful and beautiful above the water, and kicking furiously beneath.

Still, Rabkin’s comment stands out to me too. It reminds me of yesterday’s post, on cruel optimism. Knowing what’s possible, thinking it’s easy and achievable, and possibly dealing with the fact that it was never as easy as it looked. 

The phrase, “It’s the hope that kills you,” comes to mind.

One person’s treasure is another person’s trash.

Treasure or trash, hope is all we have.

See also, hope is as hollow as fear.