The Fashion World is morning the loss of a legend Virgil Abloh the artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection and the founder of the off-white label has died at the age of 41 after privately battling a rare aggressive form of cancer cardiac angiosarcoma in a statement shared to his Instagram is sadly announced his passing and revealed that Virgil chose to endure his battle privately since his diagnosis in 2019.

Undergoing numerous challenging treatments all while helming several significant institutions that apan fashion art and culture per John Hopkins medicine cardiac angiosarcoma is quite a rare type of primary malignant cancerous tumor that occurs in the heart but despite Virgil’s health challenges the entrepreneur was focused on his craft more than ever the statement on his Instagram continued by saying quote through it all his work ethic infinite curiosity and optimism never wavered Virgil was driven by his dedication to his craft and to his mission to open doors for others and create pathways for greater quality in art and design.

According to the message Virgil lived by this motto everything, I do for the 17 year old version of myself believing deeply in the power of art to inspire future generations Virgil is survived by his loving wife shannon children low and gray his sister edwina and his parents knee and eunice following the news of his passing Louis Vuitton released a heartfelt statement on social media Bernard Arno the CEO of LVMH stated quote we are all shocked by this terrible news Virgil was not only a genius designer and a visionary he was also a man with a beautiful soul and great wisdom thr LVMH family joins me in this moment of great sorrow and we are all thinking of his loved one in tyhe passing of their husband, father, brother son and friend meanwhile the Co-founders of new guard whose company oversees off-white and other fashion brands also shared a heartfelt message over Virgil’s death their joint statemement on the off-white instagram page reads quote Virgil was a genius a visionary but most aof all he was family there are no words to describe the loss that his passing leaves in our lives his legend his love and his spirit will remain with us forever thank you for changing our lives Virgil rest in power brother in 2012.

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Virgil founded the off-white fashion label and about a year later yay hired him to be his creative partner the two were long-time collaborators and had even interned at Fendi together in 2009 and according to the New York times in march 2018 Virgil made history as the artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s meanswear collection becoming the first African American to lead the brand’s meanswear line in addition to that incredible feat Virgil was also one of the few black designer to lead a major french fashion house at the time he told thr outlet quote, I feel elated this opportunity to think through what the next chapter of design and luxury will mean at a brand that represents the pinnacle of luxury was always a goal in my wildest dreams and show a younger generation that there is no one way anyone in this kind of position has to look is a fantastically modern spirit in which to start Virgil added, I want to use Louis Vuitton’s history with travel to really look at different cultures around the world to help make all our humanity visible when creativity melds together with global issuse, I believe you can bring the world together fashion on his level can really open eyes.