Kanye West Pays Tribute to Donda’s Creative Director, Virgil Abloh
| LAST UPDATE 11/29/2021
The founder of Off-White and the creative director of Louis Vuitton, Virgil Abloh has tragically passed away at 41 years old. His friend and colleague, Kanye West paid his respect, by dedicating his Sunday services to the late designer. Here's what he had to say.
On November 28, Abloh's family announced on Instagram that the fashion mogul had been privately battling a rare form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma, "We are devastated to announce the passing of our beloved Virgil Abloh. He chose to endure his battle privately since his diagnosis in 2019, undergoing numerous challenging treatments, all while helming several significant institutions that span fashion, art, and culture." But he wasn't just gifted in fashion - the famed designer was also skilled in furniture design and even DJing.
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Abloh's fashion career began back in 2009 when he interned for Fendi, and right there by his side was Mr. West. The two formed a fast friendship as they worked together in Italy. Shortly after, the Gold Digger artist named Abloh his creative director for Donda. West's aim for his 10th album was to "put creatives in a room together with like minds [to] simplify and aesthetically improve everything we see, taste, touch, and feel." And Abloh did just that. Ye once said, "I have all these ideas, and Virgil is able to architect them because he is an actual architect."
Kanye West's Sunday Service paid tribute to Abloh just a few hours after it was announced that he had lost his life. The website for the services declared, "In loving memory of Virgil Abloh, the creative director of Donda." They also revealed that the choir would perform their own version of Adele's single Easy On Me. They changed the original lyrics a bit and instead sang, "Go easy on me, father. I am still your child, and I need a chance to feel your love around."
Abloh's legacy will live on in both the fashion and music world. His family wrote on Instagram, "Virgil was driven by his dedication to his craft and to his mission to open doors for others and create pathways for greater equality in art and design."
He is survived by his two kids, Grey and Lowe, and his wife Shannan Abloh.
