Virgil Abloh, fashion’s most powerful black exec, dies at 41

Renowned designer Virgil Abloh, died aged 41 after battling cancer for several years. photo: Louis Vuitton

Virgil Abloh, LVMH’s star designer and the most high-profile Black figure in luxury fashion, died on Sunday at age 41 after battling cancer for several years.

A post on Abloh’s Instagram account said that he had "privately” battled cardiac angiosarcoma, a rare, aggressive form of cancer, since 2019.

Abloh’s death sent shockwaves through the fashion world, where he is remembered not only for his influence on streetwear and sneaker culture with his brand Off-White, but also his success in revitalising Louis Vuitton after his appointment as head of menswear design in 2018. In July, LVMH bought a 60% stake in Off-White and named Abloh to a wider role at the conglomerate, giving him the authority to create new brands beyond fashion.

"We’re all shocked,” LVMH chief executive officer Bernard Arnault said. "Virgil was not only a genius designer, a visionary, he was also a man with a beautiful soul and a great wisdom.”

LVMH elevated Abloh in part to help the firm keep capture a younger, more diverse set of consumers. In the age of social media, the designer distinguished himself by gaining more than 6 million Instagram followers, where his posts reflected his daily inspirations as well as his latest creations, collaborations and travels.

Fashion designers including Stella McCartney and Donatella Versace posted tributes to Abloh, while fashion journalist and Project Runway host Nina Garcia said in a Twitter post: "Your understanding of fashion bridged a gap, attracting a new audience that revered your designs.”

Abloh’s influence reached beyond fashion. He designed album covers for artists including Kanye West and counted artists including Canadian rapper Drake as personal friends. South Korean pop group BTS called Abloh a "true creative genius” on its official Twitter account.

In sports, Abloh’s designs were most visible in the NBA via Louis Vuitton’s campaign with the league and in Off White x Nike collaborations worn by stars including Russell Westbrook, Draymond Green and Jordan Clarkson. Abloh also worked with Nike to design a boot for Paris St-Germain star Kylian Mbappe. The French soccer player and NBA stars were among those who mourned Abloh on social media.

Louis Vuitton, whose womenswear design is led by artistic director Nicolas Ghesquiere, is part of the fashion and leather goods unit at LVMH that contributed more than 41% of revenue at the group in 2019.

Abloh was born in Rockford, Illinois, on Sept. 30, 1980 to Ghanaian parents. He earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison before completing a master’s degree in architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Abloh is survived by his wife, Shannon, and their two children, Lowe and Grey. ― Bloomberg