Louis Vuitton To Showcase Virgil Abloh’s Final Collection At Art Basel

On Tuesday, two days after his death, Louis Vuitton bosses will unveil Virgil Abloh’s final menswear collection in Miami, Florida.

The 41-year-old passed away on Sunday after a private battle with cancer and has been hailed by celebrity collaborators and clients including Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, designer Marc Jacobs, and Hailey Bieber.

On Monday, Louis Vuitton Chairman and CEO Michael Burke announced the French fashion house will be debuting his final collection to “pay tribute to the life and legacy of a creative genius.”

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“It is with profound sorrow that I learned of the passing of Virgil Abloh,” Burke said in a statement shared to Instagram.

“Virgil was not only a friend, great collaborator, creative genius, visionary, and disruptor, but also one of the best cultural communicators of our times. He paved the way for future generations. As a devoted supporter of his community through his charities and passions, he was an eternal optimist who believed anything was possible.

“In this same spirit, we at Louis Vuitton will proudly continue to celebrate his legacy with a final show in Miami, per his wishes. I am honored to have called him my friend. My deepest thoughts are with his wife, children, parents, family, and the entire community that was touched by his greatness.”

The post includes a video of a boy riding a bike through Miami and encountering a hot air balloon featuring the Louis Vuitton logo. He climbs aboard with wonder, and the screen fades to black as the words “Virgil was here” appear on the screen.

“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,” the Instagram announcement of Abloh’s death read in part.

“Through it all, his work ethic, infinite curiosity, and optimism never wavered. 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 often said, ‘Everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself, believing deeply in the power of art to inspire future generations.”