Virgil Abloh, revered Louis Vuitton designer and the founder of Off-White, died Sunday of cancer.
He was 41.
“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,” a statement posted to his social media reads.
The statement shares that Abloh “valiantly battled a rare, aggressive form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma.” The designer chose to battle the disease privately while continuing his work. The statement adds that Abloh underwent “numerous challenging treatments.”
“Through it all, his work ethic, infinite curiosity, and optimism never wavered. Virgil was driven by his dedication to his craft and to his mission to open doors for others and create pathways for greater equality in art and design. He often said, ‘Everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself,’ believing deeply in the power of art to inspire future generations. We thank you all for your love and support, and we ask for privacy as we grieve and celebrate Virgil’s life,” the post concludes.
Born in 1980 in Rockford, Illinois, Abloh studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a degree in civil engineering. He went on to complete a master’s degree in architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Not limited to clothing, Abloh was also a respected DJ and a furniture designer. At 22, Abloh met Kanye West and soon became his creative director. In 2018, he was named as the artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection.
At the time of his death, he was the most influential Black executive in the most powerful luxury group in the world.
Time Magazine named him the most influential designer alive.
LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault reacted to the sad news with the following statement to social media: “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.”
