Virgil Abloh , artistic director of menswear at Louis Vuitton and founder and CEO of Off-White™ , has died after a private battle with cancer. The famed designer was known for changing the landscape of streetwear and luxury fashion, serving as both the founder and CEO of his successful luxury brand Off-White™, as well as being the first Black designer to lead Louis Vuitton’s menswear line. As a designer and creative director, Virgil worked to merge the industries of contemporary culture and luxury fashion with an approach centered on art history, youth culture, graphic design, music and more. On Sunday afternoon, statements were released by LVMH and Virgil Abloh’s personal Instagram account announcing the designer’s passing. The designer had been battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer called cardiac angiosarcoma for the past two years. “He has chosen to endure his battle privately since his diagnosis in 2019, undergoing numerous challenging treatments, all while leading several significant institutions spanning fashion, art and culture,” the statement read. “Through it all, his work ethic, endless curiosity and optimism have never wavered. Virgil Abloh has been driven by his dedication to his craft and his mission to open doors for others and create pathways for greater equality in art and design.”
