The Life and Legacy of Virgil Abloh

One of the most influential figures in fashion passed away this Sunday after battling cancer privately.

by GRACE MCHUGH ★ DECEMBER 1, 2021

In a few short years, Virgil Abloh has become a household name. After launching his luxury fashion brand, Off-White, and becoming the first Black creative director of men’s wear at Louis Vuitton, his influence in the fashion industry has been nothing short of spectacular. However, following a two-year battle with a rare cancer known as cardiac angiosarcoma, his family confirmed his untimely passing this past Sunday, November 28th.

Abloh’s designs have been seen across the world in various notable landscapes. His clothes are showcased extensively, from his incredible shows at Paris Fashion Week to the streets of Manhattan. His designs have been worn by hundreds of incredibly influential people, such as Timothee Chalamet, Spike Lee, Kendall Jenner, and Bella Hadid. He designed Hailey Baldwin’s famous wedding dress in 2018, as well as a collaboration with famous tennis player Serena Williams.

According to the New York Times, Virgil created a bridge between “hypebeast culture and the luxury world,” which has transformed consumer demand and fashion trends. Abloh’s work has been showcased at many fashion shows internationally, as well as design institutions across the globe. During his career, Abloh has won many awards, such as the British Fashion Awards “Urban Luxe” award and International Designer of the Year at the GQ Men of the Year Awards in 2017.

Instagram was inundated with posts and messages from those who knew Abloh, as well as people who didn’t know him but were impacted by his impact and creativity. Virgil was described by his friends as “kind, humble, gentle, and bright,” among plenty of other things. He was a close friend of many famous models and visionaries in the fashion world, as well as musical artists and other A-listers. They all had wonderful and moving things to say about the life of Abloh, and their dismay that it was cut short. This news seemed to come as a shock not only to his fans but his close friends as well. 

“To battle his illness privately perfectly explains the type of man he was, he never wanted anyone to worry about him,” Kendall Jenner wrote in her message to Abloh.

Virgil was also an impactful man in fashion as one of the most famous Black designers and fashion visionaries in history. “There are people around this room who look like me,” he said to The New York Times at his first Louis Vuitton fashion show in Paris. “You never saw that before in fashion. The people have changed, and so fashion had to.” Virgil can be attributed to much of this change and the much-needed integration within luxury fashion. His impact has been profound, and many young Black designers have pledged to carry on his legacy after hearing the devastating news.

Virgil was 41. He is survived by his wife, Shannon, and his two children, Lowe and Grey, as well as his sister and parents. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.