Why Celebrities Worldwide Are Mourning Fashion Designer & Singer, Virgil Abloh Who Died Of Cancer (Bio, Career, Wife, Music….)

Virgil Abloh is one great designer the fashion world will never forget. Born on September 30th, 1980 to a Ghanaian immigrant parents, Abloh attended Boylan Catholic High School in Illinois, US where he was born and raised though he is of the Ewe ethnicity of Volta region, Ghana.

His dad managed a paint company while his mum was a seamstress. After his basic education, Ablor gained admission into the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he studied Civil Engineering.

After that, he attended the Illinois Institute of Technology where he did his Masters degree in Architecture.

Virgil Ablor Musical Career

Ablor starter his musical career right from his teen age. He started by being a Disc Jockey in parties and over the years, the fashion designer started playing for international shows. In January 2018, Abloh released his first single titled ‘Orvnge’ with German DJ/Producer Boys Noize.

In 2019, ‘Pioneer’ announced a collaboration with him and then in 2020, Virgil designed the original cover of Pop Smoke album ‘Shoot For The Stats, Aim For The Moon’ though the design was later replaced as it was criticized.

In 2021, Virgil Abloh started a monthly two hours internet radio show on WorldWide FM.
He also sang ‘Peace of Mind’ ft Mavins, Sirens, We’re Alive, Delicate Limbs etc.

Virgil Ablor Fashion Career

Virgil Abloh who is a fashion designer and entrepreneur began his fashion breakthrough during his internship with Fendi in 2009. Prior to that, he was already active in designing right from his stay at Illinois Institute. While studying Architecture, Ablor designed T-shirts and also wrote for ‘The Brilliance’, a fashion and design blog.

During his internship in Fendi, he met Kanye West and they both formed a strong collaboration.

He was lucky to attract CEO of Louis Vuitton, Michael Burke who picked an interest in him. Ablor and Kanye West’s partner, Don C launched a retail store called ‘The RSVP Gallery’ in Chicago in 2009. In 2010, the rapper Kanye West appointed him as the Creative Director of his agency, Donda.

As if that was not enough, in 2011, the fashion entrepreneur served as artistic director for Jay Z/Kanye West’s album “Watch the Throne”. You should know that Virgil Abloh was the first black person to be an artistic director for a French Luxury Fashion House.

In 2013, Ablor decided to take the bulls by the horn and he founder his own company called ‘Pyrex Vision’, the goal was to represent the importance of youth culture by centering the designs around a garment that youths would notice from gym class.

The company did not last for long as he closed it and then opened the famous street wear brand “Off White” in 2013.

According to him, his logo was inspired by Ben Kelly and the first collection of his Off White company was inspired by Ludwig Mies Vander Rohe’s floating glass home, Farnsworth House.

In 2014, Virgil Abloh took his company to another height as he launched the company’s women wear line which was selected as a finalist for the Most Hennessey Louis Vuitton(LVMH) prize. He however lost the award.

In 2017, Abloh collaborated with NIKE to design a collection titled ‘The Ten’. Still in 2017, the late CEO partnered with a conceptual artist, Jenny Holzer.

In late 2018, his Off White surpassed Gucci’s sales and was ranked hottest label in the world.
His hardwork paid off as he was named Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton’s Men’s wear in 2018.
In the same year, the late CEO shared his first collection for Louis Vuitton at 2018 Men’s Fashion Week which held at Paris. The collection became of high demand and he got the attention of Serena Williams. He collaborated with NIKE and created the outfit the popular tennis player used all through the 2018 US open.

Abloh released a special collaboration with the luggage manufacturer Rimowa, a transparent suitcase in a limited edition on June, 2018.
He also worked with Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami and in 2019, the artistic director made his first solo museum art exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.
In 2019, the famous designer was appointed to the board of directors of The Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Ablor later partnered with IKEA and came up with a collection called ‘Markerad’ which was released in 2019.

Ablor’s Awards/Nominations

In 2011, the cover art he designed for Jay Z and Kanye West was nominated Best Recording Package at the Grammy Awards.

In 2015, the late CEO’s “War is not over” T-shirts and topper made him most traction.

In 2017, Virgil Abloh received the Urban Luxe Awards at the British Fashion Awards.

He also won the International designer of the year at the GQ Men of the Year Awards

In 2017, Off-White Air Jordan “the Ten” collaboration won 2017’s Shoe of the Year and he also received recognition of Accessory designer of the year.

In 2018, Virgil Abloh was named 100 Most Influential People in the World by Times Magazine.

In 2018, he was honoured as a leading innovator by Ebony Power 100.

In 2019, Ablor got nominated for the 2019 Men’s wear designer of the year.

Family of Virgil Ablor

Virgil Abloh got married to his lovely wife, Shannon Sunberg in 2009 and the marriage produced two children, Lowe Ablor and Grey Abloh.

In 2019, he was diagnosed of Cardiac angiosarcoma, unfortunately, the father of two gave up the ghost on the 28th of November, 2021 after battling cancer.

Philanthropy

Virgil Abloh founded Virgil Abloh ‘Post Modern’ Scholarship Fund in 2020, its aim is to assist black students.

Today, he is being mourned worldwide for his great works on earth.