Virgil Abloh Passes Away From Rare Form of Cancer at 41
The founder of luxury streetwear brand Off-White and artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear has died after privately battling the disease
American designer and entrepreneur, Virgil Abloh, has passed away after two years of battling a rare, aggressive form of cancer: cardiac angiosarcoma.
“We are devastated to announce the passing of our beloved Virgil Abloh, a fiercely devoted father, husband, son, brother, and friend,” reads a statement shared within the caption of an Instagram post, uploaded to the platform on Saturday evening, along with a photo of Virgil smiling.
“He is survived by his loving wife Shannon Abloh, his children Lowe Abloh and Grey Abloh, his sister Edwina Abloh, his parents Nee and Eunice Abloh, and numerous dear friends and colleagues.”
“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.”
“We are all shocked by this terrible news. Virgil was not only a genius designer and a visionary, he was also a man with a beautiful soul and great wisdom. The LVMH family joins me in this moment of great sorrow and we are all thinking of his loved ones on the passing of their husband, father, brother, son and friend,” Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, Louis Vuitton’s parent company, said in a statement shared on the brand’s Instagram account.
A member of Fashion Trust Arabia’s judging committee, he recently attending attended the award ceremony gala in Doha. The organization mourns his passing, commemorating his work as a mentor, role model, and creative force throughout the industry in an Instagram post.
“Fashion Trust Arabia is absolutely devastated and saddened by the news of the passing of Virgil Abloh,” We had the honor of welcoming Virgil last month in Doha for our FTA Prize Award Ceremony and his support was invaluable to everyone around him, especially our community of young designers who look up to him. The fashion and music world have lost a creative visionary and an inspiration whose work will transcend generations to come. Our deepest condolences go out to his family during this difficult time. RIP”
Born and raised in Rockford, Illinois Virgil had a background in civil engineering and architecture (having studied both at university), before entering the fashion industry as a Fendi intern in 2009, working alongside Kanye West. In 2013, he founded luxury streetwear brand Off-White, before being named artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear in 2018.
Lead image courtesy of Fashion Trust Arabia
