"Through it all, his work ethic, infinite curiosity, and optimism never wavered," the post on his Instagram account read. Even when I just walked into a luxury store, people would look at me like I didn’t belong there." "When I was growing up, I didn’t know that I could be showing in Paris, because I didn’t see anyone doing that who looked like me. "Part of my equation is to inspire the next generation and to help them think outside the box," Abloh told Interview magazine in 2018. 'A once in a generation creative mind': Kanye West, more stars mourn designer Virgil Abloh He was a pioneer in the fashion world, serving as the first Black artistic director to lead Louis Vuitton menswear, just one of two people of color in charge of a major fashion house (along with Balmain's Olivier Rousteing) at the time of his appointment in 2018. The same year, he was named a Time 100 Most Influential People honoree.įashion icon: How Daniel Kaluuya saved Hollywood's red carpet season "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," Abloh's Instagram read. Louis Vuitton and Off-White also confirmed his death on their accounts. Virgil Abloh, the artistic director for Louis Vuitton menswear and the founder and CEO of fashion house Off-White, has died after a private battle with a "rare, aggressive form of cancer," according to social-media posts from the brands. He was 41.Ībloh, a fashion trailblazer and frequent celebrity collaborator, died Sunday after fighting cardiac angiosarcoma, which blocks blood flow to the heart, according to a post shared to his verified Instagram account. Watch Video: Lupe Fiasco, Virgil Abloh create ‘Shoes’ for Ahmaud Arbery