Virgil Abloh is dead: fashion pioneer dies at the age of 41 after cancer

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Virgil Abloh (January 2018): »A Visionary«

Photo: FRANCOIS GUILLOT / AFP

The well-known fashion designer and creative mind behind the Louis Vuitton menswear collection, Virgil Abloh, died of cancer.

This was announced by LMVH - the group that owns the brand - on Sunday.

Abloh was 41 years old.

"Virgil was not only a brilliant designer, a visionary, but also a man with a beautiful soul and great wisdom," said French billionaire and company boss, Bernard Arnault, in a statement.

Abloh was the first black man to design a collection for the world's most valuable luxury brand.

The American, who also worked as a DJ and visual artist, had been Artistic Director for men at Louis Vuitton since March 2018.

In July of that year, LVMH expanded its role and gave it the mandate to launch new brands and partner with existing brands in a variety of sectors beyond fashion.

The signing of Virgil Abloh for the men's line from Louis Vuitton in March 2018 caused a sensation.

Because the 37-year-old had no classical fashion training, but was a trained engineer and architect.

In 2013 the American with Ghanaian roots founded the successful streetwear label Off-White.

As a result, he became one of the most sought-after and influential designers in the world.

Abloh's family stated on the designer's Instagram account that he had been battling angiosarcoma of the heart, a rare form of cancer, for the past two years.

"He chose to wage his fight privately since his diagnosis in 2019 and underwent numerous difficult treatments while simultaneously running several major institutions in the fields of fashion, art and culture," the statement said.

Abloh leaves behind his wife, Shannon Abloh, and children, Lowe and Gray.

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