Menswear Creative Director of Louis Vuitton and Founder of Off White, Virgil Abloh, dies of cancer at age 41. Read on to learn his legacy.
Related: Virgil Abloh Continues A Cultural Narrative In Louis Vuitton Men’s SS22 Collection
At the very start of Virgil Abloh’s career as the Menswear Creative Director of Louis Vuitton, he was received with immense praise. The public couldn’t believe that a Black designer would be taking the position of Creative Director for a big fashion house. In the fashion industry, it rarely happens. This was a first for French heritage house, Louis Vuitton. Virgil Abloh officially became the first Black designer of Louis Vuitton. Historical. But, it doesn’t stop there. He used his platform to revolutionize the fashion industry, give a voice to people of color, and pay homage to his roots.
In Abloh’s three year tenure in Louis Vuitton, he delivered. After his debut collection in 2019, Louis Vuitton’s sales of fashion and leather goods alone grew by 20%. Louis Vuitton’s street-centric clients loved the incorporation of Abloh’s hip-hop, skateboarding, streetwear aesthetic to his luxe collections.
Abloh was great at using his past to create the future of fashion. His humble beginnings in the streets of Chicago was what made Abloh’s Louis Vuitton so moving. It hits you from home. It’s grounded luxury. Just like his good friend, Kanye West, Abloh used his Chicago background to cement his DNA in the industry. Both creatives used their relatable backgrounds to catapult their careers to the right direction.
Speaking of his friendship with Kanye West, the two have been instrumental in each other’s growth as creatives. Both Abloh and West interned at Fendi years ago before they became superstars in their respective industries. After which, Abloh became the Creative Director of Kanye West’s creative industry, Donda. Later on, Abloh started his own brand, Off White, which became a huge success and led to his appointment in Louis Vuitton. Since Abloh’s passing, West has mourned the death of his friend and is dedicating his latest Sunday Service to him.
Abloh lives on in the hearts of many; his celebrity friends, co-workers, and family. We hope to see his legacy live on in the many young black designers who deserve a seat on the table. As Virgil Abloh said during his appointment in Louis Vuitton all those years back, “To show a younger generation that there is no one way anyone in this kind of position has to look is a fantastically modern spirit in which to start.”
