Louis Vuitton’s visionary artistic director Virgil Abloh, 41, dies of after secret cancer battle
‘The world has lost a fashion superstar’: Louis Vuitton’s visionary artistic director Virgil Abloh, 41, dies after secret two-year battle against rare cancer
Virgil Abloh, who made made history as Louis Vuitton’s first black artistic director, died Sunday at age 41 He had been privately battling cancer since a 2019 diagnosis of cardiac angiosarcoma‘We are all shocked by this terrible news,’ said Louis Vuitton executive director Bernault Arnault, who called Abloh a ‘genius designer’ and ‘visionary’ The first-generation Ghanian-American had no formal training as a designer and learned to sew from his seamstress motherHis widely-praised designs were supported by the biggest names in fashion, including Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, and sisters Bella and Gigi Hadid
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Virgil Abloh, who made history as Louis Vuitton’s first black artistic director, is dead at age 41 following a years-long secret battle with cancer.
The fashion prodigy had been privately battling cardiac angiosarcoma, which he was diagnosed with in 2019.
‘We are all shocked by this terrible news, Virgil was not only a genius designer, a visionary, he was also a man with a beautiful soul and great wisdom,’ Louis Vuitton executive director Bernault Arnault said in a statement. ‘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 brother, their father or their friend.’
His widely-praised designs were supported by the biggest names in fashion, including Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Hailey Bieber, and sisters Bella and Gigi Hadid.
Born on September 30, 1980 in Chicago, the first generation Ghanaian-American Abloh was raised in Rockford, Illinois.
Although having no formal training as a designer, he learned from his mother who was a seamstress.
On the day he graduated from engineering school in 2003, Virgil met Kanye and went on to meet his then-manager John Monopoly. He became a member of his creative team soon after.
Virgil Abloh, who made history as Louis Vuitton’s first black artistic director, is dead at age 41 following a years-long secret battle with cancer. He’s pictured in Paris, France on July 5, 2021
Louis Vuitton chief executive Bernard Arnault announced Abloh’s death on Sunday
Abloh is pictured with Gigi Hadid at the 2019 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City, New York
Pictured: Kanye West (left) and Abloh (right) after the Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring/Summer 2019 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 21, 2018 in Paris, France
Pictured: Kim Kardashian (left), Kanye West (center) and Abloh (right) pose after the Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring/Summer 2019 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 21, 2018
Abloh began his fashion career in 2009 when he interned for Fendi in Rome, Italy, alongside Kanye West, Vogue reported.
The pair became fast friends and collaborators, and in 2010 Abloh was named creative director of West’s creative content agency Donda.
News of his death sent shockwaves ripping through social media, where celebrities and fans expressed shock and offered condolences.
Pharrell Williams took to Twitter with a tribute to the Off-White designer: ‘My heart is broken. Virgil you were a kind, generous, thoughtful creative genius. Your work as a human and your work as a spiritual being will live forever. Sending love and light to your wife, children, family and day ones you’re with the Master now, shine.’
‘I am so sorry to read this,’ Marc Jacobs wrote on Twitter. ‘My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones. May you Rest in Peace and Power dear Virgil.’
‘I am so sorry to read this,’ Marc Jacobs wrote on Twitter. ‘My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones. May you Rest in Peace and Power dear Virgil’
‘My heart is broken,’ he wrote. ‘Virgil you were a kind, generous, thoughtful creative genius. Your work as a human and your work as a spiritual being will live forever. Sending love and light to your wife, children, family and day ones. You’re with the Master now, shine.’
A statement posted to Abloh’s Instagram account described him as ‘a fiercely devoted father, husband, son, brother, and friend.’
‘For over two years, Virgil valiantly battled a rare, aggressive form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma,’ the statement said. ‘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 continued: ‘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.’
Abloh married Shannon Sundberg after ten years of dating in April 2009 and the couple had two children, Lowe and Grey.
Shannon Abloh with her children Grey and Lowe attend the Off-White Menswear Fall/Winter 2019/2020 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 16, 2019 in Paris, France.
Pictured: Abloh stands between his wife Shannon Abloh (right ) and his sister after the Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring/Summer 2019 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 21, 2018
Following his historic appointment with Louis Vuitton in 2018, Abloh said in conversation with The New York Times that he was ‘elated’ with his new position and ‘this opportunity to think through what the next chapter of design and luxury will mean at a brand that represents the pinnacle of luxury was always a goal in my wildest dreams.
‘And to show a younger generation that there is no one way anyone in this kind of position has to look is a fantastically modern spirit in which to start,’ Virgil said.
Louis Vuitton named Virgil Abloh as its new Artistic Director in 2018
Abloh had no training as a designer and he learned from his mother who was a seamstress
Earlier in his career, in 2013, Abloh launched Off-White which quickly became wildly successful.
Since being founded, the brand has been worn by the likes of A$AP Rocky, Justin Bieber, Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner. Off-White has also collaborated with other brands like Nike, Ikea, Champion, Jimmy Choo, Sunglass Hut and Timberland.
In 2015, Abloh was a finalist for LVMH’s Young Designers Prize which led to his appointment as a creative director for the fashion house’s menswear.
Pictured: Abloh, Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid and Karlie Kloss during the finale of the Off-White show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2019/2020 on February 28, 2019 in Paris, France
Pictured: A model presents a bag creation by designer Virgil Abloh during a preview show for his Fall/Winter 2019-2020 collection for fashion house Louis Vuitton during Men’s Fashion Week in Paris, France, January 17, 2019
The pictured Louis Vuitton bag, which is shaped like an airplane, retailed for $39,000
Alongside this, Virgil was also an international DJ, having played a number of shows in New York City, Miami and South Korea and had a residency at Las Vegas’s XS Nightclub.
Abloh is pictured with Bella Hadid during a dinner in Paris, France, on July 5, 2021
Just months ago, in late June, Abhol was seen strolling through Paris with friend Bella Hadid, showcasing his edgy style in a belted grey suit.
He emerged with the stunning model on the heels of his new collaboration with Nike and Louis Vuitton.
At the time, Sneaker News detailed: ‘Since entering mainstream consciousness, Virgil Abloh has demonstrated that he’s never not working…
‘The Illinois-native’s relentless drive has produced collections with IKEA, speakers with Ojas and recently 21 pairs of the Louis Vuitton x Off-White x Nike Air Force 1…
Model Bella Hadid is pictured stepping out with Abloh in Paris on June 24, 2021
‘Unveiled at the Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring 2022 runway show in Paris on June 24th, the collection of sneakers mark yet another expansive project from Abloh.’
Abloh’s fashion legacy goes beyond clothes; he collaborated with Mercedes Benz chief design officer Gordon Wagener last year to dramatically remodel the Mercedes-Benz G-Class as a ‘stripped-back, monolithic racetrack car with analogue speedometer and dials,’ the Financial Times reported.
The result of their second collaboration, called Project Maybach, was set to make its world debut December 1.
Abloh’s work was widely admired by celebrities; Hailey Bieber in 2019 revealed she chose Abloh to design her wedding gown because she wanted the dress to reflect her ‘street style.’
Hailey Bieber’s wedding dress was designed by Abloh, her longtime friend
She told Vogue that said that she has always had fashion design in mind for her special day with Justin Bieber due to their longtime friendship despite lack of experience in designing wedding dresses.
She said: ‘From day one, I said I want Virgil to do my dress. I didn’t want somebody who was a wedding dress designer.’
Proof: Abloh shared a screenshot of his donation the (F)EMPOWER Community Bond Fund in Miami on Sunday
In June 2020, Abloh was slammed after the multi-millionaire designer donated just $50 to a protesters’ bail fund amid the nationwide uprisings over George Floyd’s death at the hands of a police officer.
He shared in an Instagram story at the time a screenshot of his donation to the (F)EMPOWER Community Bond Fund in Miami.
‘The Miami community ~ I’m crazy inspired. For kids in the streets that need a bail funds [sic] for George Floyd protests. Matching the local energy,’ he wrote, tagging five other Instagram users.
Fans at the time were stunned by the paltry donation from Abloh, who is believed to have an estimated net worth of $4 million.
‘I should be sleep, but I’m up thinking about how Virgil Abloh donated $50 and then told people,’ tweeted Brittany Luse, co-host of The Nod With Brittany and Eric on Quibi.
‘I really cannot believe Virgil Abloh has the audacity to post that screenshot of his $50 donation. I’m speechless every time I see it,’ someone else agreed.
Many critics were quick to point out that his donation was only a fraction of the cost of the pricey items he sells — including a $90 pair of Off-White socks.
