Virgil Abloh, artistic director for men at Louis Vuitton and founder of the Off-White brand and died this Sunday at the age of 41, "struck down by cancer that he had been fighting for several years", announced the LVMH group.
"Virgil was not only a designer of genius, a visionary," said Bernard Arnault, the group's chairman and CEO - also owner of Le Parisien.
“He was also a beautiful soul and a man of great wisdom,” he added.
The LVMH group, Maison Louis Vuitton and Off White have the immense sorrow of announcing the disappearance of Virgil Abloh, struck down this Sunday, November 28 by a cancer that he had been fighting for several years.
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- LVMH (@LVMH) November 28, 2021
Born in Rockford, Illinois (United States) in 1980, Virgil Abloh, an American of Ghanaian origin, combines the hats of artist, architect, engineer, creative director and designer. He first became known as artistic director of the album "Watch the Throne" by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West. He founded his clothing brand, Off-White, in 2013 and was appointed in 2018 to head the Louis Vuitton men's collections. “The first thing I will do will be to define new codes. My muse has always been what people really wear, and I can't wait to make a luxury version of that, ”he said following his appointment.
Virgil Abloh has won several awards, including the “Urban Luxe” award at the British Fashion Awards and the “International Designer of the Year” award at the GQ Men of the Year Awards in 2017.
"We all think of those who loved him, who have lost today a husband, a father, a brother, a friend", delivered Bernard Arnault following his disappearance.