Inside Virgil Abloh's NikeLab Chicago Re-Creation Center

Yesterday, Virgil Abloh shared a handful of teasers on Instagram hinting at a big project in his home city of Chicago. He would later confirm that the NikeLab Chicago Re-Creation Center at 673 N Michigan Ave would be opening its doors on May 31. Now, there is even more details about Abloh's latest initiative with the Swoosh.

The Re-Creation Center will be committed to providing a creative outlet for the local community, as well as hosting Abloh-curated workshops with local creatives, and even dropping exclusive product from time-to-time. Ten Chicago creatives will also enroll in an eight-week mentorship program spearheaded by the Off-White founder to hone their respective craft, which will be capped of by a final presentation.

"It’s a way to contribute to the local creative community," says Abloh. "I see it as a place to experiment under the context of sport and creativity."

Another installation at the Re-Creation Center will be the Reuse-a-Shoe space, which allows visitors to turn their used sneakers into Nike Grind. Nike Grind recycles used materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill, and uses them to create new products. It will be used to craft materials for a brand new basketball court designed by Abloh ahead of 2020's NBA All-Star weekend festivities in the Windy City.

Lastly, the space will offer a mix of products ranging from popular silhouettes in the city like the Air Force 1 to hyped-up drops. The NikeLab Chicago Re-Creation Center will operate from May 31 to July 28.