Virgil Abloh, the artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection, died on Sunday at the age of 41, following a long battle with cancer, according to LVMH, the fashion and luxury house’s French owners.
Abloh, the first black American creative director of a major French fashion brand, introduced streetwear to the runway, including hoodies and sneakers.
His sudden death at the height of his career caused shockwaves around the world, with condolences flooding in from rival design houses, as well as actors and athletes, for a man regarded as a true humanitarian visionary.
“This shocking revelation has stunned us all. Virgil was not only a brilliant designer and visionary but also a lovely soul and wise man “Bernard Arnault, the CEO of LVMH, stated in a statement.
“The LVMH family joins me in this time of profound sorrow, and we are all thinking about his loved ones following the demise of their husband, father, brother, or friend,” he added in a statement issued on the LVMH Twitter account.
He has been “fighting secretly” against cancer for several years, according to the organization.
In 2018, Abloh was named artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear line. His parents were Ghanaian immigrants to the United States.
LVMH also announced earlier this year that it will acquire a majority stake in Virgil Abloh’s luxury streetwear label Off-White. LVMH acquired a 60% share in Off-White, while Abloh kept 40%.
In his work with Louis Vuitton, Abloh has addressed both environmental and social themes, with anti-racist and anti-homophobia slogans at his January show in Paris.
Earlier this year, he stated that he intended to use his cooperation with LVMH “to create opportunities for diverse individuals and foster greater equity and inclusion in the industries we serve.”
“So sad to hear of the demise of beloved Virgil, one of the loveliest individuals you could ever meet,” said Kim Jones, artistic director of menswear at French fashion label Dior.
Gucci, a rival luxury Italian fashion business, praised Abloh as an “immense inspiration to us all, both as a designer and as a person.”
“Though his vision will live on through the trails that he built during his career, he will be profoundly missed,” Gucci wrote on Twitter.
Abloh, the king of luxury streetwear, had positioned himself as one of the most sought-after designers in the world in just a few years.
His signature style included sneakers and hoodies, as well as an immediately recognizable emblem comprised of oblique black and white bands.
Pyrex Vision, Abloh’s first label, was founded in 2012.
Off-White, a luxury streetwear brand that gained a following thanks to its eye-catching branding before morphing into more “couture” products, was launched a year later.
Abloh was one of only a few fashion designers with a large fan base outside of the industry and was a celebrity in his own right.
Kanye West, Abloh’s longtime friend, and collaborator dedicated his weekly gathering “Sunday Service” to him with a live-streamed choir rendition of Adele’s new single “Easy On Me.”
In an Instagram post, Canadian artist Drake praised Abloh “for everything.”
He wrote, “Love you forever brother.”
“Virgil you were a kind, compassionate, thoughtful creative genius, your work as a human and your work as a spiritual being will endure eternally,” US singer Pharrell Williams wrote on Instagram.
“Sending love and light to your wife, children, and family… you’re with the Master now, shine,” says the Master.
“RIP VIRGIL ABLOH,” said French footballer Kylian Mbappe on Twitter. No one will forget the impression you made on them. My friend, may God bless you.”
Idris Elba, a British actor, also tweeted, “Too soon Virgil.” “Man, you will be missed in this world.”
Riz Ahmed, a fellow British actor, noted that Virgil Abloh had “extended culture” and “changed the game,” assisting in the “reimagination of what’s possible.”
