Louis Vuitton honoured Virgil Abloh with a catwalk presentation of the designer’s last fashion collection in Miami on Tuesday, just days after his sudden death prompted an outpouring of tributes on social media from a broad spectrum of fans.
The memorial event kicked off with a red-logoed hot air balloon hovering over Marine Stadium in Miami, Florida. Chicago-based rapper Scott "Kid Cudi" Mescudi walked the runway before a live audience that included streetwear designer Don Crawley, known as Don C, and rapper ASAP Ferg, according to Instagram posts.
Models carried blue and pink lockbox purses, as well as grey duffle bags for men.
Some were clad in Vuitton jerseys, while others wore black top hats, bright red jumpsuits and blue suits for men.
As the show began, roughly 16,000 viewers tuned in to watch on YouTube.
Abloh, the American-born son of Ghanaian immigrants and the fashion industry’s highest-profile black designer, died Sunday at age 41 following a private battle with cancer. The brand, which is owned by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, decided to move ahead with a catwalk show that had been in the works, transforming it into a tribute to Abloh.
Since Sunday, celebrities including supermodels Bella Hadid and Naomi Campbell have posted condolences and tributes on social media. Rapper Kanye West payed tribute to his friend and colleague during his weekly Sunday Service gospel music performance.
Abloh was the creative director for West's creative agency, Donda, and had previously designed album covers for the rapper.
Kendall Reynolds, chief executive of Kendall Miles Designs, based in Chicago, said in an interview before the show that Abloh inspired her to start a luxury brand of Italian handcrafted products.
“His indelible mark on the disruption of traditional European fashion houses will be a legacy that all young designers, like myself, can learn from,” Mr Reynolds said.
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American designer Virgil Abloh arrives at his exhibition at Doha Fire Station in Qatar's capital on November 4. The designer has died from cancer aged 41. AFP -
The US designer before his autumn-winter collection show for fashion house Louis Vuitton during Men's Fashion Week in Paris in January 2020. Reuters -
US model Gigi Hadid and Abloh arrive for the 2019 CFDA fashion awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City in June 2019. AFP -
For autumn/winter 2021, Virgil Abloh combined a kilt with a double breasted jacket. Photo: Louis Vuitton -
Wearing a durag, and a coat cut to trail on the floor, a model appears in the autumn/winter 2021 show, Louis Vuitton menswear, by Virgil Abloh. Photo: Louis Vuitton -
Abloh acknowledges the audience at the end of the Louis Vuitton men's autumn-winter 2019-2020 collection fashion show in Paris, in January 2019. AFP -
A model walks the runway during the Louis Vuitton Menswear spring/summer 2022 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 22, 2021 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Model Kendall Jenner and Abloh attend the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum, New York City, in May 2018. AFP -
Abloh and Bella Hadid attend the 2017 CFDA Fashion Awards at Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, in June 2017. AFP -
A look combines basketball shorts and a tailored jacket for spring/summer 2022, Louis Vuitton menswear, by Virgil Abloh. Photo: Louis Vuitton -
DJ Abloh attends Paper Magazine Sprout By HP & DKNY Break the Internet Issue Release in Miami, Florida, in December 2014. AFP -
A model is wrapped in a kente cloth, as part of the autumn/winter 2021 collection by Virgil Abloh at Louis Vuitton. Photo: Louis Vuitton -
Ghanaian-American designer Virgil Abloh waves after the presentation of his spring/summer 2020 Men's collection for Louis Vuitton during the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris, France, 20 June 2019. EPA -
Virgil Abloh on the red carpet for the 2021 Met Gala, September 13, 2021. EPA -
Virgil Abloh and models walk the runway during Off-White Menswear autumn/winter 2019-2020 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 16, 2019 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
For Louis Vuitton autumn/winter 2021, Virgil Abloh created a suit of sheer silk, filled with down. Photo: Louis Vuitton -
As part of the autumn/winter 2021 Louis Vuitton collection, Virgil Abloh created a jacket using famous Parisian landmarks. Photo: Louis Vuitton -
Fashion designer Virgil Abloh walks the runway during the Off-White show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear autumn/winter 2016/2017 on March 8, 2016 in Paris, France. Getty Images
