Founder of the Haute Couture streetwear label Off-White and Louis Vuitton’s first African-American Artistic Director, Virgil Abloh was truly an incredible individual, who will forever have left his distinct mark on the fashion industry. Loved, honoured and admired by so many, Virgil Abloh passed away at age 41 on Sunday 28th November 2021, after battling a ‘rare and aggressive form of cancer; cardiac angiosarcoma’. The heartbreaking news left many shocked as he chose to face his battle privately after his diagnosis back in 2019. The beloved designer, creative, father, husband, son, brother and friend will forever be admired for his dedication to the industry and creating pathways for greater equality.
Virgil’s once-in-a-lifetime creative mind left a huge impact on many people’s hearts and on the fashion industry, you may even say he revolutionised street style while forever changing the dynamic of equality in the fashion industry. The talented individual was first recognised in fashion as Kanye West’s creative director, the iconic duo interned together at LVMH-owned Roman fashion house Fendi. The humble, joyful and positive self-made African-American designer reinvented the streetwear aesthetic in a world of high fashion. Abloh’s parents encouraged creativity in their home when he was at a very young age. Raised in a middle-class household, his mother was a seamstress while his father managed a paint factory, his mother taught him the skills of sewing and stitching as a boy. He went on to study architecture and civil engineering. LVMH chief executive Bernard Arnault remembers him: “Virgil was not only a genius designer, a visionary, he was also a man with a beautiful soul and great wisdom.”
Despite having no fashion education or degrees Abloh was commended as one of the most influential designers in the fashion industry. As an advocate and role model for equality, this was kept at the heart of his career. In 2015 Off-White was announced as a finalist for the LMVH Young Designers Prize, he later became the first LMVH finalist to take on a major design role in an LMVH brand; Louis Vuitton. When appointed this incredible role he affirmed: “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 to 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.” He was truly a respectable role model for our generation. The brilliant individual was also awarded the British Fashion Awards Luxe Award in 2018.
Today, tomorrow and forever we remember Virgil Abloh for the beloved designer, creative, father, husband, son, brother and friend he was. Here are some of the Virgil Abloh quotes we will always treasure…
Virgil Abloh’ humility and the constant desire to learn (two very important personal features to have in fashion)
“I feel like I’m figuring things out, but I don’t feel accomplished yet. I still feel like I’m an intern.”
Virgil on believing in yourself:
“Sometimes I still feel like the seventeen-year-old version of myself who didn’t believe I could be a designer with a capital D.”
“What’s there to be insecure about? Life is the hard part. Fashion isn’t.”
“I take pride in the fact that there’s a kid who’s living in, you know, Alabama, who never thought something like this was possible for him, almost to the point that he made life and career decisions to find some other thing he was passionate about. But all of a sudden, because I’m here, he knows [he can do it too]. That’s why the Harvard lecture exists. I’m not doing that for myself. I’m doing it to be a beacon of hope for someone. This is the legacy of any artist or creative: you want to make sure that your work makes an impact.”
When he was appointed at Louis Vuitton: “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 to 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.”
If you are looking for more quotes, there is an entire book published in 2021 with all the best Virgil Abloh quotes named Abloh-isms and available on Amazon at this link
Virgil Abloh quotes about his work ethic:
“Any person you can cite – Steve Jobs, Karl Lagerfeld, Michael Jordan – they are not common names because they did it nine-to-five. there are people on earth that dedicate themselves to their practice or whatever. I’ve always been like that.”
“You can’t be an Olympic athlete and decide that you’re only going to train three days a week… that your brain needs to rest and you really like eating so you’re just going to do that. It’s like, ‘No’”
“Pick your mentors and understand what makes their work tick.”
Virgil Abloh’s [new] vision of fashion and creativity
“The first thing I am going to do is define new codes. My muse has always been what people actually wear, and I am really excited to make a luxury version of that.”
“”New” is a farce to me. It’s. critique intended to keep people like me out. I‘m not trying to pretend that I’m inventing something that’s never been seen before. my work exists because I’m inspired by the work of others.”
“When creativity melds together with global issues, I believe you can bring the world together. Fashion on this level can really open eyes.“
