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Off-White Founder, Louis Vuitton Artistic Director Virgil Abloh Dies at Age 41
November 29, 2021
LVMH announced Off-White founder and Louis Vuitton artistic director Virgil Abloh died Sunday at the age of 41.
"We are all shocked after this terrible news," the announcement from LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault read. "Virgil was not only a genius designer, 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 after the passing of their husband, their father, their brother or their friend."
The announcement also noted Abloh had cancer for the past several years.
Off-White collaborated with Nike a number of times under Abloh's direction, including with the Jordan Brand. He also partnered with Nike and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago to renovate a local basketball court.
Abloh was raised in Illinois and also partnered with Nike to help create the NikeLab Chicago Re-Creation Center to help give back to the community and provide more opportunities for children to participate in sports and other activities.
TMZ described Abloh as a "revolutionary designer" and noted he was the first Black man to hold the position of Louis Vuitton artistic director.
Abloh's personal Instagram account also released a statement on his death, explaining he "valiantly battled a rare, aggressive form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma. He chose to endure his battle privately since his diagnosis in 2019."
Abloh is survived by his wife Shannon, their two children, his sister and his parents.