Virgil Hablot
It is a pity that the talented designer has fallen.
According to the announcement on Virgil Abloh's personal Instagram account, Virgil was diagnosed with a rare invasive angiosarcoma of the heart on 20 19.
All this time, he has been receiving treatment in secret. In the last few years of his life, despite his illness, he always stood at the forefront of creative work such as fashion, culture and art.
Virgil devoted herself to the fashion and art industries that she loved.
Announcement on Virgil Hablot's personal Instagram account
Bernard arnault, chairman and CEO of the group, said: "We are shocked by such bad news. Virgil is not only a talented designer, but also a visionary prophet. He is also a human being with beautiful soul and powerful wisdom. At this sad moment, LVMH, together with Virgil's loved family and friends, expressed sincere condolences for his death. "
A bright but short life
Shine like a diamond
Virgil Hablot 1980 was born in Rochford, Illinois, USA. His parents are immigrants from Ghana, Africa.
Virgil spent her adolescence in Chicago, which was full of skateboarding, hip-hop, rock and graffiti. Immersed in street culture and hip-hop culture, Virgil got the initial enlightenment about art and fashion.
In college, Virgil studied civil engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology. He has no professional fashion learning background, and all the basic knowledge about sewing comes from his mother who is a tailor.
Virgil's original dream was not to be a designer, but to be an artist.
In 2009, Kanye West, Virgil Abloh (first from the right) and other friends were outside the COMME DES GARCONS show.
After graduating from college, Virgil began to work for rapper Kanye West, responsible for designing products around his concert; In 2006, Virgil and Kanye worked as interns in Fendi, during which they gradually became familiar with each other. Because of similar interests, Kanye appointed Virgil as the creative director of agency DONDA on 20 10.
Off-white, from Virgil Hablot.
20 13 Virgil founded the street clothing brand Off-White, which mixes street fashion with high fashion.
After Off-White was founded more than a year ago, Virgil was nominated for the LVMH Young Fashion Designer Award, which paved the way for him to become a Louis Vuitton menswear designer in the future.
Off-white x Nike "THE TEN" series
In 20 17, Off-White and Nike jointly signed, and Virgil redesigned the most classic pair of 10 sneakers for Nike, which sold out in a few minutes.
This unprecedented success of co-branding can be said to be a classic model of co-branding in subsequent brands.
Off-white x Jimmy Choo
From 2065438 to March 2008, Virgil was appointed as the creative director of Louis Vuitton men's wear, and was officially pushed to the top of the industry.
It is worth noting that Virgil was also the first black designer in charge of Louis Vuitton's men's wear creativity.
Michael Burke, president and CEO of Louis Vuitton, once said, "Virgil Abloh's sensitive and harmonious life experience of luxury goods will be very helpful to lead Louis Vuitton men's wear to the future."
Louis Vuitton 20 19 SS men's wear, Virgil's LV debut.
That's true. After Virgil took charge of Louis Vuitton men's wear series, he made drastic reforms in the direction of rejuvenation, connecting street culture with luxury fashion, and became the primary hero of Louis Vuitton's rejuvenation.
Louis Vuitton 2022 stainless steel men's wear
Virgil once said, "I am an artist first, then an architect, and finally a fashion designer."
In his short but brilliant career, he not only launched a variety of fashion trends, but also cooperated with home brands many times to design a series of young furniture that integrated street culture.
MARKERAD series from IKEA and Virgil Abloh.
Virgil Hablot designed for Galerie Kreo.
Virgil Hablot X Vitera
From Chicago to Paris, from street culture to top luxury brands, from unknown black teenagers to respected famous designers, only Virgil knows the bitterness and hardship of this road.
After he finished Louis Vuitton's first big show, he hugged kanye west. Leaning on his friend's shoulder, he finally burst into tears.
When he recalled the past and saw the prosperity in front of him, he had mixed feelings and couldn't help crying for having worked so hard for so long.
After Virgil Hablot and Kanye West embraced, Louis Vuitton 20 19 SS men's wear show.
He's just too tired.
rest in peace
Virgil devoted 100% efforts and energy to the fashion and art industry she loved.
He is also responsible for Louis Vuitton men's wear creativity and Off-White brand, and needs to carry out five or six projects at the same time every season, and launch cooperation series non-stop.
He has offices all over the world, and all the design work is done by two mobile phones and instant messaging software WhatsApp. In the past, he flew eight international flights a week.
Under the tight work schedule and great work pressure, Virgil's health turned red as early as 20 19.
After taking over as the creative director of Louis Vuitton men's wear for one year, he stayed at home for three months because of health problems; In the same year, he rarely missed the off-white ready-to-wear show, the Vogue "The Power of Fashion" conference, the exhibition held in Atlanta Museum of Advanced Art in June 5438+065438+ 10, and the public activities that needed to be displayed in cooperation with Nike and IKEA.
Although Virgil followed the doctor's advice, she avoided long-distance travel and paid attention to rest. However, in the fast-developing fashion industry, it is almost impossible to have a real rest.
After that, Virgil actively cooperated with the treatment, while still being responsible for the clothing of Louis Vuitton and Off-White every season; At the same time, he has to face the pressure of public opinion from outside.
In the long run, his brilliant life finally stopped at 202 1 1 1 28.
This is the fashion industry. Every season, new clothes are introduced. Behind this is the hard work of many people in the industry day and night. These clothes can't even be sold in the end, and then they are destroyed and remanufactured.
People who love the fashion industry are willing to devote themselves to it and overdraw themselves for love and dreams, but love is infinite and life is limited. There are many people like Virgil Abloh. The discussion about the urgent and high-pressure working environment and the mental fatigue of designers has been going on in the industry for many years, but these questions seem to have no answers.
Alas, there are sighs when I am free.
I hope you all take care.
Rest in peace, Virgil.
Bye, Virgil.
This article comes from Bai Yi's design.