Topline
Louis Vuitton designer and Off-White founder Virgil Abloh died Sunday after a battle with cancer—here’s a look back at his some of his most renowned works, from album covers, runway fashion to Ikea rugs.
Key Facts
Abloh influenced a number of rap album covers, including Kanye West’s Watch The Throne and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, as well as A$AP Rocky’s Long.Live.A$AP and Lil Uzi Vert’s Luv Is Rage 2.
Abloh’s first brand Pyrex served as a predecessor for Off-White, and was known for its label-heavy looks.
Serena Williams famously donned Abloh’s Off-White x Nike tennis uniform— complete with a tutu— at the 2018 U.S. Open.
Off-White’s collaboration with Ikea was one of the most sought-after collaborations of 2019.
Timothee Chalamet’s glittering Louis Vuitton harness at the 2019 Golden Globes sent fans—and the internet— into a tizzy. Abloh also designed an equally-popular harness-look for Michael B. Jordan, and called the accessory a “keystone” of his collection.
Kid Cudi donned see-through pants from Louis Vuitton at the 2021 Met Gala, and a dress by Abloh while performing on SNL last year.
For Kanye West’s 2016 album Life Of Pablo, Abloh helped design a line of shirts that took concert merch to a new level.
Abloh’s first Louis Vuitton runway show featured some of his famous friends walking in the show, like Cudi, and some sitting in the audience, like West and his then-wife Kim Kardashian. A video from the runway showing Abloh and West crying embracing in a hug went viral after the show.
Some of Abloh’s best-known designs were his shoes, particularly his collaboration with Nike.
In Abloh’s museum exhibit Figures Of Speech, he shows off his design work outside of clothing, including furniture and sculptural pieces.
Further Reading
From Kanye West To Armani: Famous Peers Mourn Death Of Louis Vuitton Designer Virgil Abloh (Forbes)
Louis Vuitton Designer Virgil Abloh Dead From Cancer At Age 41 (Forbes)
