Hailey Bieber, Pharrell Williams and Marc Jacobs honored the late fashion designer Virgil Abloh who died on Sunday morning after privately battling an ‘aggressive form of cancer’ at the age of 41.
Abloh’s death was announced on Instagram Sunday with a lengthy caption revealing he battled cardiac angiosarcoma for two years.
‘We are devastated to announce the passing of our beloved Virgil Abloh, a fiercely devoted father, husband, son, brother, and friend,’ the caption said. ‘He is survived by his loving wife Shannon Abloh, his children Lowe Abloh and Grey Abloh, his sister Edwina Abloh, his parents Nee and Eunice Abloh, and numerous dear friends and colleagues.’
Hailey Bieber, who was honored to have Virgil create her stunning wedding dress when she married husband Justin Bieber three years ago, shared a touching tribute to Abloh on Instagram.
Honored: Hailey Bieber, who was honored to have Virgil create her stunning wedding dress when she married husband Justin Bieber three years ago, shared a touching tribute to Abloh on Instagram
‘Virgil completely changed the way I looked at street style and fashion, the way he looked at things inspired me deeply,’ she wrote. ‘I will never be able to fully express how grateful I am to have known him and worked with him, from walking on his runways to having him design my wedding dress and all the other amazing moments in between, I felt he was always rooting for me.
‘He was someone who always brought life, charisma, love and fun to any situation, and every room he walked into. A once in a generation creative mind that is so rare and I’ll never forget his impact. We love you Virgil.’
Pharrell took to Twitter with a tribute to the Off-White designer: ‘My heart is broken. Virgil you were a kind, generous, thoughtful creative genius. Your work as a human and your work as a spiritual being will live forever. Sending love and light to your wife, children, family and day ones you’re with the Master now, shine.’
‘Virgil completely changed the way I looked at street style and fashion, the way he looked at things inspired me deeply,’ she wrote. ‘I will never be able to fully express how grateful I am to have known him and worked with him, from walking on his runways to having him design my wedding dress and all the other amazing moments in between, I felt he was always rooting for me’
‘He was someone who always brought life, charisma, love and fun to any situation, and every room he walked into. A once in a generation creative mind that is so rare and I’ll never forget his impact. We love you Virgil.’
Tragic: Abloh’s death was announced on Instagram Sunday with a lengthy caption revealing he battled cardiac angiosarcoma for two years
‘My heart is broken,’ he wrote. ‘Virgil you were a kind, generous, thoughtful creative genius. Your work as a human and your work as a spiritual being will live forever. Sending love and light to your wife, children, family and day ones. You’re with the Master now, shine.’
Gutted: Gigi Hadid wrote that she was absolutely ‘heartbroken’ by the loss of the designer and spoke to his character as a friend
Tribute: ‘I am heartbroken by the loss of my dear friend, and a friend to the world, Virgil Abloh – He was 1 of 1,’ Hadid wrote
Gigi Hadid wrote that she was absolutely ‘heartbroken’ by the loss of the designer and spoke to his character as a friend.
‘I am heartbroken by the loss of my dear friend, and a friend to the world, Virgil Abloh. He was 1 of 1. His kindness and energetic generosity left a lasting impression on every life he touched— he made everyone feel seen and special.
‘He will be deeply missed, cherished, and celebrated by me and all the people and industries that have been lucky enough to work around & know the true supernova behind this man.
‘I picture him now like our Mickey Mouse .. forever with us, forever adored, forever magical, forever guiding us with that special Virgil FUN; I’m sure that’s how he wanted to be remembered, but still it will never be the same without him in the room.
Fun filled moments: ” picture him now like our Mickey Mouse .. forever with us, forever adored, forever magical, forever guiding us with that special Virgil FUN; I’m sure that’s how he wanted to be remembered, but still it will never be the same without him in the room’
Embrace: The supermodel had worked closely with the designer throughout her career and shared snaps of intimate moments
Creatives: In one snap shared the duo doodled during a fitting
‘You will continue to inspire me every day, V. I feel blessed and honored by every moment. Rest Easy, my friend. You are so loved. You were the difference. As we always said.. ‘See you somewhere, soon™️’ Hadid wrote.
Drake wrote ‘My plan is to touch the sky 1000 more times for you…love you eternally brother thank you for everything.’
Proving his talents as a designer spanned beyond clothing, Abloh had also designed the rapper’s private jet — dubbed ‘Air Drake’ — which features the OVO owl and the words ‘VA Abloh engineering.’
Eternal love: Drake wrote ‘My plan is to touch the sky 1000 more times for you…love you eternally brother thank you for everything’
Mid-concert love: Another image posted by the rapper showed the pair sharing a handshake during one of his concerts
On film: Another shot shared the duo having fun at a club as captured on film
Proving his talents as a designer spanned beyond clothing, Abloh had also designed the rapper’s private jet — dubbed ‘Air Drake’ — which features the OVO owl and Abloh engineering
Abloh trained as an architect and made history as Louis Vuitton’s first black artistic director.
The founder of game-changing label Off-White, a brand he created in 2012, had taken over the role from Kim Jones.
He got into fashion when he landed an internship at Fendi in 2009 alongside rap superstar Kanye West, and they continued to collaborate together.
‘I am so sorry to read this,’ Marc Jacobs wrote on Twitter. ‘My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones. May you Rest in Peace and Power dear Virgil.’
Runway moments: Another snap showed the prolific designer taking to the runway following one of his fashion shows
‘We are devastated to announce the passing of our beloved Virgil Abloh, a fiercely devoted father, husband, son, brother, and friend,’ the caption said. ‘He is survived by his loving wife Shannon Abloh, his children Lowe Abloh and Grey Abloh, his sister Edwina Abloh, his parents Nee and Eunice Abloh, and numerous dear friends and colleagues’
‘I am so sorry to read this,’ Marc Jacobs wrote on Twitter. ‘My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones. May you Rest in Peace and Power dear Virgil’
Honest: Jodie Turner-Smith wrote: ‘truly, f*** CANCER’
Odell Beckham Jr. shared: ‘I wish we lived in a world where we could celebrate the living instead of celebrating them when they leave. Rest In Peace to my brother Virgil! You were loved’
‘We are all shocked by this terrible news, Virgil was not only a genius designer, a visionary, he was also a man with a beautiful soul and great wisdom,’ Louis Vuitton executive director Bernault Arnault said in a statement.
‘The LVMH family joins me in this moment of great sorrow and we are all thinking of his loved ones after the passing of their husband, their brother, their father or their friend.’
Jodie Turner-Smith wrote: ‘truly, f*** CANCER.’
Odell Beckham Jr. shared: ‘I wish we lived in a world where we could celebrate the living instead of celebrating them when they leave. Rest In Peace to my brother Virgil! You were loved’
Kris Jenner posted to Twitter and wrote that she was ‘so so saddened and devastated’ to hear about the passing of her ‘dear friend Virgil Abloh’ who she called an ‘angel’ and joined celebrities who sent ‘love and prayers to his beautiful family.’
Saddened: Kris Jenner posted to Twitter and wrote that she was ‘deeply saddened and devastated’ about his passing
Symbolic: Khloe Kardashian took to Twitter with a string of dove and broken heart emojis
Groundbreaking: Usher called the designer ‘the culture’ and cautioned ‘you never know when they’re going to go’
Brotherly love: The Yeah! singer shared a snap of the pair posing together where Abloh rested his arm on his shoulder
Khloe Kardashian expressed her sadness in emoji form and she posted a string of doves and broken hearts on Twitter.
Usher shared two images of them embracing and wrote: ‘Thank you brother for everything you’ve offered this world. You shifted it all. You are the culture.
‘This is precisely what I meant when I said we need to thank those who are here while we have them, it’s important … you never know when they’re going to go.’
Kaia Gerber poetically wrote: ‘in a world where smiles are too rare, and kindness is even rarer, there was you. with your laughter and your light and your positivity. i would look to you when it felt like everything was spinning and somehow you always made it go quiet.
‘You saw people, and through your art you gave them the courage to be themselves. thank you for everything you taught me. taught us. you changed the world. virgil forever ♥️ we love you. sending my deepest love and condolences to shannon, their kids, and the whole family.’
Beacon of positivity: Kaia Gerber poetically wrote: ‘in a world where smiles are too rare, and kindness is even rarer, there was you’
Leaning on him: The model daughter of Cindy Crawford continued to write ‘i would look to you when it felt like everything was spinning and somehow you always made it go quiet’
Legendary: Amelia Gray Hamlin re-posted a portrait of the designer and wrote ‘legends never die…thank you for your incredible mind’
Man of many talents: January Jones tried to add a bit of levity to the sadness as she wrote ‘Heaven just got way cooler,’ and called him the ‘best restaurant recommender in any city’
Amelia Gray Hamlin wrote ‘legends never die’ and thanked him for his ‘incredible mind.’
January Jones tried to add a bit of levity to the sadness as she wrote ‘Heaven just got way cooler,’ and called him the ‘best restaurant recommender in any city’ adding that he ‘art directed life.’
Many celebrities including Chantel Jeffries, Eiza Gonzalez and Meadow Walker reposted the colorful image of Abloh shared to his official Instagram page following the news of his passing.
Thanks: Chantel Jeffries joined other celebs who reposted the colorful image of Abloh that was shared to his official Instagram page following the news of his passing
Living loud: Eiza Gonzalez wrote how he lived his life ‘loud and bold’
Rest in love: Meadow Walker wrote ‘rest in love’