Virgil Abloh is the artistic director of Louis Vuitton Mens and the founder of the Off-White label. He died Sunday after a private battle with cancer. He is 41 years old.
Craig Barritt/Getty Images for the Qatar Museum
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Craig Barritt/Getty Images for the Qatar Museum
Virgil Abloh is the artistic director of Louis Vuitton Mens and the founder of the Off-White label. He died Sunday after a private battle with cancer. He is 41 years old.
Craig Barritt/Getty Images for the Qatar Museum
Virgil Abloh, artistic director of Louis Vuitton mens and founder of the Off-White label, has died after a private battle with cancer. He is 41 years old.
Louis Vuitton parent company LVMH announces Abloh .’s death in a tweet on Sunday, along with a joint statement with Louis Vuitton and Off-White.
“We are all shocked by this terrible news. Virgil is not only a genius designer, a visionary, he is also a man with a beautiful soul and great intellect. The LVMH family is with me in this moment of extreme grief and we are all thinking of their loved ones after the passing of their husband, father, brother or friend.” , LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault said in the statement.
Abloh was diagnosed with cardiac angiosarcoma, a rare and dangerous form of cancer in 2019, according to a post on his personal Instagram account.
“He has chosen to endure his battle privately since his diagnosis in 2019, undergoing multiple rounds of challenging treatment, all while running a number of time-critical organizations. pages, art and culture,” the Instagram post reads.
When Abloh became artistic director of menswear at Louis Vuitton, he joined a small group of Black designers working at such a high level in French designers. But Abloh was already a household name before he joined Louis Vuitton.
He founded the luxury streetwear label Off-White in 2012 and has enjoyed success with both celebrities and teenagers. Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Beyoncé and Jay-Z all wore Off-White. Abloh also collaborates with companies including Nike, Jimmy Choo, Champion and more.
Abloh is also known for his relationship with Kanye West, for whom he designed both album covers and merchandise. Abloh also served as West’s creative director.
With degrees in both civil and architectural engineering, Abloh’s creative abilities span many fields. In 2019, he kicked off the Off-White collaboration with IKEA.
Amid his numerous projects and collaborations, Abloh kept moving even after he was diagnosed with cancer, a post on his personal Instagram account said.
“Throughout it all, his work ethic, boundless curiosity and optimism never wavered. Virgil is driven by a dedication to the profession and his mission to open doors for others. others and creating paths to greater equality in art and design. He often says, ‘Everything I do is for a 17-year-old version of myself,’ deeply believes in the power of art to inspire future generations.”
Abloh is survived by his wife Shannon Abloh, his children Lowe Abloh and Gray Abloh, his sister Edwina Abloh, and his parents Nee and Eunice Abloh.
