FASHION WORLD MOURNS THE DEATH OF VIRGIL ABLOH
This young designer died at the peak of his career.
The fashion world is mourning. Famous designer Virgil Abloh died at 41 years in Chicago, United States, Sunday (11/28/2021). Abloh died of angiosarcoma heart cancer.
The name Abloh is synonymous with iconic products and is also popular in various street fashion scenes. Coming with the Off-White brand, Abloh's design products always have their fans. The artistic director of Louis Vuitton is also known for the idea of the struggle for equality, especially for black people.
Abloh was born in Rockford, Illinois, USA, on September 30, 1980. Unlike other designers, Abloh did not start his career in design school. He received his bachelor's degree in civil engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After that, Abloh continued his education in the department of architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
In the graduate program, Abloh learned the curriculum from Mies van der Rohe, which was formed from the ideas of the Bauhaus. It is this curriculum that makes Abloh combine arts, crafts, and design in his works. Abloh also gives a contemporary touch to his designs, both architectural and fashion.
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While in the fashion world, Virgil Abloh started his career as an apprentice at the Fendi label with Kanye West in 2009. The collaboration between Abloh and West brought a new color to the fashion world. They showcased their collection at Paris Fashion Week. Since then, Abloh's name has skyrocketed.
In 2011, Abloh became artistic director for Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne albums. This album earned Abloh a Grammy nomination.
In 2012, Abloh founded his first label Pyrex Vision in New York. This label only lasts a year. After closing Pyrex, Abloh founded Milan-based Off-White. At Off-White, Abloh combines the ideas of luxury, art, music, traveling, and streetwear.
Abloh has collaborated with many famous stars and famous labels. In 2017, for example, Abloh teamed up with Nike to redesign 10 popular sneakers.
In 2018, Abloh was entrusted to become the artistic director of Louis Vuitton's pre-fashion collection. He is also included in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
In 2019, Abloh was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive cancer called cardiac angiosarcoma. This disease made him have to take a break from the fashion world and undergo several treatments. Abloh's struggle with cancer had to stop after this disease took his life. However, Abloh's ideas, works, and efforts in the fashion world will always be remembered.
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Abloh is the first black man to become one of the elements of creative leadership in the top French fashion line. Abloh can bring street clothing such as hoodies and sneakers to the world's catwalks. Abloh was chosen to be the artistic director of the LV men's collection in 2018.
Abloh, born to a family of Ghanaian immigrants in the United States, founded the streetwear label Off-White in which LVMH owns 60 percent of the shares.
While working with LV, Abloh also carried out a personal mission to introduce social and environmental issues to the fashion stage. One of them is the message of anti-racism and anti-homophobia that he pinned during a fashion show in Paris in January.
Earlier this year, she did state her partnership with LVMH was an opportunity to "expand opportunities for diverse individuals and promote greater equality and inclusion in the [fashion] industry."
Abloh's departure for good also invited condolences from other fashion houses. As Kim Jones of Dior said, "So sad to hear of the passing of Virgil, one of the nicest people you'll ever meet."
Also, the fashion house Gucci via a Twitter account, stated, "His vision will live on through the trail that he set throughout his career."
Celebrities and world celebrities also expressed their condolences for the death of Abloh. Some of them are French football team striker Kylian Mbappe, American singer Pharell Williams, British actor Idris Elba and French actor Omar Sy.
Boyband BTS mourns the death of the famous designer from the United States, Virgil Abloh. This was shared by BTS through their official Twitter account @BTS-twt on Monday (29/11).
"RIP, Virgil Abloh. You will always be missed. An honor to work with you. A creative with true genius," wrote BTS.
BTS is one of the artists who have worked with Virgil Abloh. Their acquaintance began when the Korean boy band was named the new face of the Louis Vuitton, fashion house ambassador.
The late Virgil Abloh even admitted that he was happy to be working with BTS. The Korean boyband is said to partner in sharing creative ideas and visions for the latest Louis Vuitton collection.
The late Virgil Abloh even admitted that he was happy to be working with BTS. The Korean boyband is said to partner in sharing creative ideas and visions for the latest Louis Vuitton collection.
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"I am delighted that BTS has joined forces with Louis Vuitton. I am looking forward to this incredible partnership, which adds a modern twist to the label, combining luxury and contemporary culture," said Virgil Abloh in a statement.
"I can't wait to share all the exciting projects we're working on."
On a different occasion, at that time, BTS also expressed their joy. The boyband consisting of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook said that being an ambassador for Louis Vuitton was an extraordinary moment.
"We are all shocked by this bad news. Virgil was not only a designer genius, a visionary, but also a man with a beautiful soul and great wisdom," said LVMH Chief Executive Bernard Arnault.
Virgil Abloh is survived by his wife Shannon Abloh and his two children Lowe and Gray Abloh. Virgil has been suffering from angiosarcoma heart cancer since 2019. He has kept his fight against this cancer to himself without many people knowing and has undergone various treatments.
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