10 Virgil Abloh Moments That Prove His Legacy Is Never-Ending

Fashion From Hailey’s wedding dress to his many viral collabs. by Jessica Andrews Updated: Feb. 20, 2024 Originally Published: November 28, 2021 Getty Images

Getty Images Louis Vuitton artistic director Virgil Abloh died on Nov. 28 after a private battle with cancer. The designer, who was also founder and CEO of Off-White, leaves behind a rich legacy as one of the most powerful Black execs in the fashion industry. Ahead, 10 iconic career moments.

Getty Images The son of Ghanaian immigrants, Virgil Abloh was born on Sep. 30, 1980 in Rockford, Illinois. His love for fashion developed early. “From a very young age, I was into hip-hop and skateboarding,” he told Teen Vogue . “All those things are what resulted in [my interest in] clothes.”

Getty Images Alongside longtime friend and partner Kanye West, Abloh got his start in fashion interning at Fendi in 2009. Abloh brought fresh new creative energy in the same way he would later disrupt and transform the visual language of Louis Vuitton menswear.

Getty Images In 2009, at a time when Black attendees weren’t readily embraced on the PFW scene, Abloh went viral in a street style photo with friends including West and Fonzworth Bentley. Nearly 10 years later, they recreated the picture after Abloh’s 2018 Louis Vuitton showing.

Getty Images As the creative director of West’s creative agency Donda, Abloh produced the artwork for Watch The Throne , a landmark collaboration from West and rapper Jay Z. The project earned Abloh a Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package.

Getty Images In 2012, the designer/DJ debuted his first brand, Pyrex Vision . Based in New York, the streetwear label was ’90s-inspired, with screen-printed flannel shirts and logo-heavy branding.

Getty Images Virgil Abloh would eventually fold Pyrex Vision to start his own fashion house, Off-White, in 2013. Based in Milan, the label is known for its signature use of quotation marks and boundary-pushing designs, like knee-high boots with a clever “For Walking” print.

Getty Images Abloh’s Off-White brand was also beloved for its many collaborations. In 2017, the design giant teamed up with Nike for a sneaker partnership called The Ten, and with Ikea for a line of lifestyle items including a floor rug with a store receipt print.

Getty Images In March 2018, Abloh was appointed artistic director of Louis Vuitton menswear. The historic role made him one of the few Black designers ever to lead a French fashion house, joining Olivier Rousteing at Balmain and Ozwald Boateng, who helmed the menswear category at Givenchy.

Getty Images A celebrity favorite, Abloh’s designs were everywhere from the red carpet to the wedding aisle. Hailey Bieber tapped the designer to create a bridal gown for her 2019 nuptials, with a train inscribed with his signature quotation marks and the words, “Till Death Do Us Part.”

Getty Images Serena Williams was one of Abloh’s biggest supporters, wearing his designs to the 2019 Met Gala and on court at the French Open that same year. The duo even collaborated on a Serena Williams x Virgil Abloh x Nike collection in 2018.

Getty Images Virgil Abloh died at age 41 from cardiac angiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. He leaves behind his wife, Shannon; his children, Lowe and Grey; his sister, Edwina; his parents, Nee and Eunice; and a host of friends, fans, and supporters around the world.

10 Virgil Abloh Moments That Prove His Legacy Is Never-Ending

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