Co-founders of the New Guard, David de Giglio and Andrea Greeley, whose company runs Off-White and other fashion brands, also shared their heartache over Virgil’s death.
“Virgil was a genius, a visionary, but mostly a family,” they said in a joint statement on Off-White’s Instagram page. “There are no words to describe the loss that his death leaves in our lives. His legend, his love and his spirit will remain with us forever. Thank you for changing our lives, Virgil. Rest in power, brother.
Virgil founded Off-White, an Italian luxury fashion label that became a fan favorite among celebrities and influential people, in 2012. A year later, Yes (also known as Kanye West) hired him to be his creative partner. The two were longtime collaborators and even did an internship together at Fendi in 2009.
“We are all children on Kanye’s groundbreaking path,” Virgil said У in 2017. “This generation would not have the freedom to cross genres if it were not for his passion to find more than what was delivered to him.”
In March 2018, Virgil went down in history as the artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection, becoming the first African-American to run the brand’s menswear line, according to New York Times. He was also one of the few black designers to run a large French fashion house.
“I feel excited,” he said at the exit. “This opportunity to think about what the next chapter of design and luxury will mean in a brand that represents the pinnacle of luxury has always been a goal in my wildest dreams. And to show the younger generation that there’s no way someone in that kind of position that you have to look at is a fantastically modern spirit in which to start. “
He added: “I want to use Louis Vuitton’s travel history to see the truly different cultures of the world to help make all of our humanity visible. When creativity merges with global issues, I believe you can unite the world. Fashion on this level can really open your eyes. “