Virgil Abloh Biography – Virgil Abloh Wiki
Virgil Abloh was an American fashion designer and entrepreneur. He was the artistic director at Louis Vuitton and the founder of Off-White, a fashion house he founded in 2012. He was a trained architect having studied the same. He also worked in Chicago street fashion, and entered the world of international fashion with an internship at Fendi in 2009, alongside American rapper Kanye West. The two then started an artistic collaboration that would launch Abloh’s career into founding Off-White.
He was the first African-American to be artistic director at a French luxury fashion house and was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2018. The New York Times described his bridging of streetwear and luxury clothing together as transformative.
In his line of work, he received several accolades and awards that were presented to him. He received his first major award in 2011 when his work designing the cover art for American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West’s collaborative album Watch the Throne was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package. In 2015, Abloh (for Off-White) was one of the finalists for the LVMH Prize. Abloh was the only American designer to be nominated for the award that year. Abloh’s Charlie Hebdo-inspired “War is Not Over!” tees as well as his toppers from his fall 2015 women’s collection gained him the most traction. He received the Urban Luxe award at the 2017 British Fashion Awards. He also had other awards to his name.
He went to study at the Boylan Catholic High School, graduating in 1998. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He received his Master of Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in 2006. While at IIT, there was a building on campus under construction designed by the architect Rem Koolhaas (who had also worked on runway collections for Prada) which helped spark his interest in fashion. While studying architecture, he designed T-shirts and wrote on fashion and design for a well-known blog, The Brilliance. Abloh first met popular musician Kanye West while working on his designs at a Chicago print shop.
Virgil Abloh Age
He was born on September 30, 1980, in Rockford, Illinois, United States, and died on November 28, 2021. He was 41 years.
Virgil Abloh Wife
Until his death on November 28, 2021, he was married to his wife, Shannon Abloh in 2009. His wife works as a program manager at Monster. The couple met in high school and were in a relationship for 10 years after which he proposed.
They officially got married in 2009 in Chicago. They had two children together and the family resided in Chicago.
Virgil Abloh Children
He left behind his two children, son Grey Abloh, and daughter Lowe Abloh.
Virgil Abloh Family
He was the son of his parents Nee Abloh, and Eunice Abloh. His parents were Ghanaian immigrants to the United States. His mother was a seamstress and his father managed a paint company. From his mother, he learned how to sew. He is also survived by his sister Edwina Abloh.
Virgil Abloh Net Worth
He had a net worth estimated to be around $ 4 million USD.
Virgil Abloh Death
He passed away on Sunday, November 28, 2021, aged 41 in Chicago. In 2019, Abloh was diagnosed with cardiac angiosarcoma, though he chose to keep the diagnosis private. He died of cancer. His death was confirmed on his Instagram account on Sunday, November 28, 2021.
The post read, “We are devastated to announce the passing of our beloved Virgil Abloh, a fiercely devoted father, husband, son, brother, and friend. He is survived by his loving wife Shannon Abloh, his children Lowe Abloh and Grey Abloh, his sister Edwina Abloh, his parents Nee and Eunice Abloh, and numerous dear friends and colleagues.”
“For over two years, Virgil valiantly battled a rare, aggressive form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma. He chose to endure his battle privately since his diagnosis in 2019, undergoing numerous challenging treatments, all while helming several significant institutions that span fashion, art, and culture.”
“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.”
“We thank you all for your love and support, and we ask for privacy as we grieve and celebrate Virgil’s life.”
Virgil Abloh Cause of Death
In 2019, Abloh was diagnosed with cardiac angiosarcoma, though he chose to keep the diagnosis private. He died of cancer in Chicago on November 28, 2021, at the age of 41.
Virgil Abloh Ethnicity
Abloh was of the Ewe ethnicity of the Volta region in Ghana.
Virgil Abloh Instagram
His Instagram handle was @virgilabloh.