The unexpected death of fashion designer Virgil Abloh came like a bolt of lightning. Word of his passing started making the rounds just before his family shared an Instagram post revealing the 41-year-old had succumbed to a rare form of cancer. As the Men’s Creative Director at Louis Vuitton and founder of the brand Off-White, Abloh had already made his indelible mark in the fashion world.
Now with the gaping hole Abloh left behind, many are wondering who will assume his role at Louis Vuitton. Unsurprisingly, Abloh’s creative partner and friend Kanye West has been at the top of the list, something Dapper Dan thinks is an incredible idea. Stopped by paparazzi at the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday (December 10), the New York-based designer offered his two cents on Kanye West’s ability to fill Abloh’s shoes.
“I think it would be a wonderful move if Kanye is up to it and if Louis Vuitton is up to it,” he said. “Kanye’s a genius. I wouldn’t doubt him. Kanye can do anything. Louis needs Kanye!”
A trained architect, Abloh made his foray into international fashion with an internship at Fendi in 2009 alongside Kanye West. Their artistic collaboration ultimately led to founding Off-White. In 2011, Abloh was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package for his work on JAY-Z and Kanye West’s celebrated Watch The Throne album.
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Seven years later, he became the first person of African descent to be named artistic director at a French luxury fashion house when Louis Vuitton put him in charge of men’s wear. Subsequently, he earned the unique distinction of being named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME magazine.
Biz Markie Laid To Rest In Custom Gold Gucci Suit Courtesy Of Dapper Dan
Kanye West was one of many famous faces at Virgil Abloh’s Chicago memorial on December 7. Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Drake, Frank Ocean, Kid Cudi, Tyler, The Creator, Kanye and his future ex-wife Kim Kardashian were visibly emotional as Lauryn Hill sang “Everything Is Everything” through tears.
Tyler, The Creator was tasked with delivering the eulogy but struggled to keep his tears at bay. At one point during his speech, the Grammy Award winner began to cry.
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“All these different people, colors, ages, backgrounds, religions, all came for one man and that’s what he did, he brought like the illest people together,” he said. “Like Don said even people I was like ‘ugh.’ But you learn he’s either not that bad or he is a genius at whatever he does. The day after he passed away is when I was gonna send him an invite and I was so excited for him to see it. I was really excited for him to see that for real.”
