时装品牌Off-White的创始人维吉尔·阿布洛(Virgil Abloh)是第一位担任路易·威登艺术总监的非洲裔美国人，他在与癌症长期斗争后去世，享年41岁。
根据Abloh经核实的Instagram页面的一份声明，Abloh自2019年以来一直在“私下”与心脏血管肉瘤进行斗争，直到最终屈服于这种疾病。心脏肉瘤是一种罕见的原发性恶性心脏肿瘤。
“通过这一切，他的职业道德、无限的好奇心和乐观精神从未动摇。维吉尔的动力来自于他对自己手艺的执着，以及他为他人打开大门、为艺术和设计中更大的平等创造道路的使命...他经常说，‘我所做的一切都是为了17岁的自己’，深深相信艺术的力量能够激励后代。”Instagram帖子继续。
“我们都被这个可怕的消息震惊了，”路易威登集团总裁伯纳德·阿诺特说，在一份声明中说。
“维吉尔不仅是一个天才的设计师和有远见的人，他还是一个拥有美丽灵魂和伟大智慧的人...LVMH的家人和我一起度过了这个悲痛的时刻，在他的丈夫、父亲、兄弟或朋友去世后，我们都在想念他的亲人，”阿尔诺说
据时尚业内人士透露，Abloh被认为是黑人时装设计师的开创性作品。他也是一名DJ、音乐家和家具设计师，根据他的艺术工作室的网站。
克里斯蒂安·维耶里/盖蒂图像，文件
维吉尔·阿布洛前来参加路易五世基金会举办的路易威登香水晚宴...
阿布洛出生在伊利诺伊州的罗克福德。他的父母是加纳移民。他曾担任伊利诺伊州本土说唱歌手坎耶·韦斯特(Kanye West)的创意总监，然后从威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校伊利诺伊理工学院土木工程和建筑专业毕业后，转向对服装设计的热情。
和韦斯特一起，他为坎耶·韦斯特和杰伊·Z的专辑《看王座》设计了封面
在芬迪实习并与韦斯特合作获得经验后，他创立了自己的豪华街装品牌——Off-White LLC。他与耐克、宜家、依云等品牌合作，还为贾斯汀·比伯的妻子海莉·比伯设计了婚纱。
Abloh今年将Off-White 60%的股份出售给了LVMH，这让他在公司中的角色得到了扩大，并使他成为一些人认为的奢侈品时尚行业中最有权力的黑人高管之一。
对Abloh的悼念在社交媒体上如潮水般涌出。
歌手法瑞尔在推特上写道:“我的心碎了。“维吉尔你是一个善良、慷慨、有思想的创造性天才你作为人类的工作和你作为精神存在的工作将永远存在。给你的妻子、孩子、家人和你现在和师父在一起的人送去爱和光，闪耀吧。”
“我们要向维吉尔·阿布洛的亲人致以最衷心的慰问，无论是作为设计师还是作为一个人，这都是对我们所有人的巨大鼓舞。”古驰在Instagram上发文。
克莉丝·詹纳在推特上说:“听到我们亲爱的朋友维吉尔·阿布洛去世的消息，我非常难过和悲痛。我把我所有的爱和祈祷送给他美丽的家庭。你是天使@virgilabloh，我们爱你。”
“读到这里我很难过。我向他的家人和亲人表达我的思念和祈祷。亲爱的维吉尔，愿你安息吧，”马克·雅可布写道。
德雷克在Instagram上发文:“我的计划是为你再触摸天空1000次..永远爱你，兄弟。”
阿布勒夫幸存于他的妻子香农·桑德伯格和两个孩子，格雷·阿布勒夫和洛维·阿布勒夫，他的妹妹埃德温娜·阿布勒夫，以及他的父母尼和尤妮斯·阿布勒夫。
Virgil Abloh, fashion designer known for work with Louis Vuitton, dies at 41
Virgil Abloh, the founder of fashion brand Off-White and the first African American to serve as artistic director for Louis Vuitton, has died at age 41 after a long battle with a cancer.
Abloh had been battling cardiac angiosarcoma "privately" since 2019 before succumbing to the disease, according to a statement from Abloh's verified Instagram page. Cardiac sarcoma is a rare type of primary malignant heart cancer.
"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 equality in art and design ... He often said, 'Everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself,' believing deeply in the power of art to inspire future generations." the Instagram post contiunued.
"We are all shocked by this terrible news," Bernard Arnault CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton SE,said in a statement.
"Virgil was not only a genius designer and a visionary, but he was also a man with a beautiful soul and great wisdom ... The LVMH family joins me in this moment of great sorrow, and we are all thinking of his loved ones after the passing of their husband, their father, their brother, or their friend," Arnault said
Abloh was considered a groundbreaker for Black fashion designers, according to fashion industry insiders. He was also a DJ, a musician and a furniture designer,according to his art studio's website.
Abloh was born in Rockford, Illinois. His parents were immigrants from Ghana. He served as a creative director for fellow Illinois native, rapper Kanye West and then shifted to his passion for fashion design after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in civil engineering and architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
With West, he designed the cover for Kanye West and Jay-Z's album, "Watch The Throne."
After gaining experience interning at Fendi and working with West, he started his own luxury streetwear brand, Off-White LLC. He collaborated with other brands including Nike, Ikea and Evian, and also designed a wedding gown for Justin Beiber's wife, Hailey Beiber .
Abloh sold a 60% stake in Off-White to LVMH this year, giving him an expanded role in the company and made him what some considered one of the most powerful Black executives in the luxury fashion industry.
Tributes to Abloh have been pouring out on social media.
"My heart is broken," singer Pharrell wrote on Twitter. "Virgil you were a kind, generous, thoughtful creative genius your work as a human and your work as a spiritual being will live forever. Sending love and light to your wife, children, family, and day ones you're with the Master now, shine."
"We would like to extend our most heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of Virgil Abloh, an immense inspiration to us all both as a designer and as a person,"Gucci posted on Instagram.
Kris Jenner said on Twitter: “I’m so so saddened and devastated to hear about the passing of our dear friend Virgil Abloh. I’m sending all of my love and prayers to his beautiful family. You are an angel @virgilabloh and we love you."
"I am so sorry to read this. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones. May you Rest In Peace and Power dear Virgil," Marc Jacobs wrote.
Drake posted on Instagram: "My plan is to touch the sky 1000 more times for you.. love you eternally brother."
Abloh is survived by his wife Shannon Sundberg and two children, Grey Abloh and Lowe Abloh, his sister Edwina Abloh, and his parents, Nee and Eunice Abloh.
