The founder of Off-White and the artistic director of Menswear at Louis Vuitton has died. He was 41 years old.
Abloh was the first black man to lead a French luxury fashion house.
Abloh battled a rare and aggressive form of cancer for more than two years.
"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," the statement said. His work ethic, infinite curiosity, and optimism never wavered.
The statement said Abloh was driven by his dedication to his craft, by opening doors for others, and by his mission of creating pathways for greater equality in art and design.
He believed deeply in the power of art to inspire future generations and often said, "Anything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself."
Abloh was born to immigrants from Africa. According to Vogue, Eunice taught him how to use a sewing machine.
Abloh was a skateboarder, soccer player, and tagger in high school, according to a profile in the New Yorker.
Abloh told the New Yorker that he loved making paper airplanes when he was a kid. I have a steady hand. And then, graffiti.
He received a degree in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master's degree in architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
He and West began collaborating after he worked at Fendi. Abloh was the creative director at Donda. Abloh was nominated for a gramophone for his cover art design for Jay-Z and West's album "Watch The Throne" in 2011.
It was the first time a Black man had taken the reins of a luxury brand when Abloh showed his first show for Louis Vuitton in June of last year.
He is survived by his family, including his wife, children, sister, and parents.
The parent company of Louis Vuitton said that Abloh was a genius designer and also a man with a beautiful soul and great wisdom.
Abloh is an immense inspiration to us all as a designer and as a person. His vision will live on through the trails that he paved throughout his career.
