By Labaran Kenneth
365Daily– Virgil Abloh, the founder of fashion brand, Off-White, and the first African-American to serve as artistic director for Louis Vuitton has died from cancer.
He was 41.
Abloh had been battling cardiac angiosarcoma “privately” since 2019 before succumbing to the disease, according to a statement posted on his verified Instagram page.
Cardiac sarcoma is a rare type of primary malignant heart cancer.
He was born in Rockford, IIIinois, to immigrants from Ghana. He served as a creative director for fellow IIIinois native, rapper Kanye West and then shifted to his passion for fashion design after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Civil Engineering and Architecture at the IIIinois Institute of Technology.
After gaining revel in interning at Fendi and working with West, he started out his personal luxury streetwear brand, Off-White LLC. He collaborated with different manufacturers along with Nike, Ikea and Evian, and also designed a wedding robe for Justin Beiber’s wife, Hailey Beiber.
Abloh sold a 60% stake in Off-White to LVMH this year, giving him an expanded role in the company and made him what some considered one of the most powerful Black executives in the luxury fashion industry.
“Through it all, his work ethic, infinite curiosity, and optimism never wavered. Virgil was driven by his dedication to his craft and to his mission to open doors for others and create pathways for greater equality in art and design … He often said, ‘Everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself,’ believing deeply in the power of art to inspire future generations.” the Instagram post contiunued.
Tributes to Abloh have been pouring out on social media.
“We would like to extend our most heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of Virgil Abloh, an immense inspiration to us all both as a designer and as a person,” Gucci posted on Instagram.
“My heart is broken,” singer Pharrell wrote on Twitter. “Virgil you were a kind, generous, thoughtful creative genius your work as a human and your work as a spiritual being will live forever. Sending love and light to your wife, children, family, and day ones you’re with the Master now, shine.”
Kris Jenner said on Twitter: “I’m so so saddened and devastated to hear about the passing of our dear friend Virgil Abloh. I’m sending all of my love and prayers to his beautiful family. You are an angel @virgilabloh and we love you.”
Abloh is survived by his wife Shannon Sundberg and two children, Grey Abloh and Lowe Abloh, his sister Edwina Abloh, and his parents, Nee and Eunice Abloh.