On Sunday, November 28, designer Virgil Abloh passed away at 41 years old. A statement posted to his Instagram page announced he was battling a rare, aggressive form of cancer called cardiac angiosarcoma. “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,” it read.
He founded the label Off-White in 2012, and he served as the artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection since 2018. Also a DJ and stylist, he was born in Illinois in 1980 to Ghanian parents. Initially working in architecture for a couple of years, he shifted to fashion and was also Kanye West’s creative director for a time. In 2015, his label Off-White was a finalist of the prestigious LVMH Prize. His designs were worn by many prominent figures and celebrities including Jay-Z, ASAP Rocky, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and more.
Abloh’s debut menswear runway show for Louis Vuitton in June 2018, which featured a rainbow runway and a stacked front row of A-listers and friends, earned widespread praise. Many celebrities shared emotional messages on social media after hearing the sudden news. He is survived by his wife Shannon, his children Lowe and Grey, his sister Edwina, and his parents Nee and Eunice Abloh.
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I'm Cosmopolitan's Associate Fashion Editor and write about any and all trends, major celeb fashion moments, and why wide-leg jeans are basically the best. I originally moved to New York City to audition for RENT, only to find out that the play closed 10 years ago.
