Abloh, the American-born son of Ghanaian immigrants, who became fashion's highest-profile Black designer, died on Sunday following a two-year battle with a rare form of cancer. The 41-year-old, who also worked as a DJ and visual artist, had been menswear artistic director at luxury label Louis Vuitton since March 2018. "Genius, disruptor ... (he) will be missed tremendously by all," veteran designer Tommy Hilfiger said on the red carpet. "He inspired designers as well as the public." Designer and television personality Tan France called Abloh "incredible and a visionary ... (who) has done the most beautiful work." Abloh, who founded label Off-White, was known for mixing streetwear with high-end suits and gowns while at Vuitton. His influences included graffiti art and hip hop. "Everyone here is going to be talking about Virgil, everyone here has been impacted by his brilliance," actor Gabrielle Union said.
NYT