Lauded as the Karl Lagerfeld of his generation , Abloh was named artistic director of Louis Vuitton ’ s menswear ready wear line , with an aim to reboot the brand for a new generation , making him the first person of African descent to lead the brand ’ s menswear line . His success at Louis Vuitton was swiftly recognised in July 2021 , Louis Vuitton parent LVMH cemented its relationship with Abloh promoting the star to a new position within LVMH that would allow him to work across the group ’ s 75 brands , making him the most powerful Black executive in the most powerful luxury group in the world .
Sadly , despite his success Abloh died in November 2021 , aged just 41 , after a private battle with cardiac angiosarcoma , a rare form of cancer . His death prompted an outpouring of emotion from industry figures and close collaborators throughout the fashion , music and art worlds . He is survived by his wife Shannon Abloh , his children Lowe Abloh and Grey Abloh along with a legacy that will be very hard to recreate .
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