Virgil Abloh, artistic director of Louis Vuitton, died

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November 28, 2021 Virgil Abloh, creative director of the men's line of Louis Vuitton, LVMH group and founder and CEO of Off-White, a company from 2018, died at the age of 41. Italian luxury clothing, based in Milan.

The family broke the news on their official Instagram page. For over two years, Instagram reads, "Virgil has bravely battled a rare and aggressive form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma. He has chosen to endure his battle in private since his diagnosis in 2019, undergoing numerous demanding treatments. all while leading several significant institutions spanning fashion, art and culture. In all of this, his work ethic, endless curiosity and optimism never wavered. Virgil was guided by his dedication to his craft and his mission to open doors to others and create pathways to greater equality in art and design. We thank you all for your love and support and ask for privacy for our pain. " 

The LVMH group wrote in a tweet: "We are in shock at this terrible news. Virgil was not only a brilliant designer, a visionary. He was a beautiful soul and a man of great wisdom", underlines Bernard Arnault, the owner of LVMH . "The whole family of Lvmh joins me to express their deep sadness. We think of those he loved, who today lost a husband, a father, a brother, a friend" adds Arnault.

Virgil Abloh was born in 1980, in the United States in Rockford, Illinois, in a family of Ghanaian origins. He studied at the University of Wisconsin where he earned his BA in Civil Engineering, and where he met future colleague and friend Kanye West. He later completes a master's degree in architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Abloh worked in the

in Chicago before entering international fashion thanks to an

at Fendi in 2009, alongside rapper Kanye West.

The two begin an artistic collaboration that will start Abloh's career with the foundation of Off-White.

Virgil Abloh leaves behind his wife Shannon Abloh and children Lowe and Gray.