Virgil Abloh: The Trailblazing Designer Dies at 41
Abloh passed away on November 28 after a private battle with cancer.
The founder of Off-White and the head of menswear at Louis Vuitton, Virgil Abloh, just passed away tragically at the age of 41. This morning, his family and friends along with LVMH, confirmed the news.
A statement on Abloh’s personal Instagram reads, “We are devastated to announce the passing of our beloved Virgil Abloh, a fiercely devoted father, husband, son, brother, and friend
“He is survived by his loving wife Shannon Abloh, his children Lowe Abloh and Grey Abloh, his sister Edwina Abloh, his parents Nee and Eunice Abloh, and numerous dear friends and colleagues.”
Another statement from Bernard Arnault, LVMH CEO, reads, in full: “We are all shocked after this terrible news. Virgil was not only a genius designer, a visionary, he was also a man with a beautiful soul and great wisdom. The LVMH family joins me in this moment of great sorrow, and we are all thinking of his loved ones after the passing of their husband, their father, their brother or their friend.”
Virgil Abloh
Based on a recent announcement by a family member of the designer, Virgil Abloh was strolling with a rare disease called cardiac angiosarcoma. This is rare cancer that occurs in the human heart. Yet, despite that, Abloh continued working as the head of menswear at Louis Vuitton and the creative director at Off-White. While undergoing treatment, the designer and musician released several collections.
For many people, Abloh was a big inspiration who changed the entire perception about the impact of fashion designers on the wider landscape. During the peak of Kanye’s career, Abloh met him and became a creative figure behind his image. Eventually, after founding Pyrex Vision, Abloh launched his first fashion brand, Off-White, which later gained a lot of success.
Without a doubt, the rise of Virgil Abloh is no less than a key moment in modern fashion. For instance, Abloh created designs that helped in bridging the wide gap between the sneaker and streetwear culture and the high fashion world. This was previously undone.
By 2017, Abloh became one of the most popular and highly demanded designers after the success of his brand Off-White. Eventually, he started working for Louis Vuitton and continued to remain the CEO at his brand Off-White until the time of his death at 41.
Furthermore, Virgil Abloh also shifted the entire perception of the youth in the way they look at luxury goods. But that is not all. The designer was also a spokesperson for the success of Black people in the world of high fashion. For that, the designer raised scholarships of up to $1 million to help new Black students who are getting into design.
On top of that, Abloh was also creatively accomplished in other areas, including music, DJing, and art. Without a doubt, the unmatched talent will be missed, and at this crucial time, our thoughts go with Abloh’s family and friends.
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LVMH, Louis Vuitton and Off White are devastated to announce the passing of Virgil Abloh, on Sunday, November 28th, of cancer, which he had been battling privately for several years. pic.twitter.com/CytwZLvSFu
— LVMH (@LVMH) November 28, 2021
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