Fashion fans and art lovers the world over are mourning the loss of designer Virgil Abloh, who passed away last Sunday in Chicago after a two-year battle with an aggressive and rare form of cancer.
Abloh, who was only 41, was most recently known as the artistic director for Louis Vuitton’s menswear line, and it was the lines parent company LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) that announced the visionary’s passing.
The company’s chairman and CEO, Bernard Arnault, said in a statement, “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.”
According to Abloh’s family, the designer struggled with his illness for some time, opting to keep the news from all but his closest confidants. "For over two years, Virgil valiantly battled a rare, aggressive form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma,” read a posted statement from Abloh’s loved ones. “He chose to endure his battle privately since his diagnosis in 2019, undergoing numerous challenging treatments, all while helming several significant institutions that span fashion, art, and culture."
It’s a tragic loss of a massive talent whose innate abilities and hard work helped him become arguably the most visible black designer in a notoriously white industry. Born in America to Ghanaian immigrants, Abloh attended school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning a degree in civil engineering before moving on to the Illinois Institute of Technology for a masters in architecture. Abloh would eventually launch his own highly lauded brand called Off-White before winning the coveted position at Louis Vuitton.
As Abloh’s profile rose, so did the fame level of his clientele. Over the years, the designer made a name for himself by creating stunning pieces that combined the best qualities of haute couture and streetwear, creating headline-making pieces for Timothy Chalamet, Chadwick Boseman, Kanye West, Michael B. Jordan,
The relationship between West and Abloh was a particularly special one. Abloh was also a talented DJ, and the two bonded over a love of music, but there was also a business partnership as Abloh spent time on the creative team at the newly named Ye’s design agency, Donda.
Other collaborations saw Abloh working with Nike, Mercedes-Benz, and IKEA.
Soon after the announcement of his passing, many of Alboh’s biggest supporters took to social media in remembrance. Model Hailey Bieber, who wore a custom Abloh gown to marry her pop-star husband Justin, wrote, “Virgil completely changed the way I looked at street style and fashion, the way he looked at things inspired me deeply. I will never be able to fully express how grateful I am to have known him and worked with him.”
Abloh is survived by his wife, Shannon, and his two children, Lowe and Grey, as well as his parents, a sister, and a far-reaching network of friends and colleagues.