Virgil Abloh Family Tree: The Story Behind Louis Vuitton's First Black Artistic Director

Virgil Abloh (1980–2021), born 30 September 1980 in Rockford, Illinois, USA, and died 28 November 2021 in Chicago, was an American designer of Ghanaian descent — founded Off-White 2013; Louis Vuitton Men's Artistic Director 2018-2021 — first African-American in the role; DJ, artist, product-designer; died at 41 of cardiac angiosarcoma kept secret for 2 years.

The Family's Roots: A Ghanaian Family in Illinois

Parents immigrated from Ghana.

His Parents

Father: Nee Abloh — Ghanaian; from Accra.

Mother: Eunice Abloh — Ghanaian; seamstress.

His Wife: Shannon Sundberg

Shannon Sundberg Abloh — American; MD of Virgil Abloh Securities Trust. Married Virgil in 2009.

Their Children

Lowe Abloh, born 2015 — daughter.

Grey Abloh, born 2018 — son.

The Abloh Family Tree at a Glance

Father: Nee Abloh — Ghanaian.

Mother: Eunice Abloh — Ghanaian seamstress.

Wife: Shannon Sundberg (m. 2009).

Children: Lowe (b. 2015); Grey (b. 2018).

Virgil Abloh:

  • Born 30 September 1980, Rockford
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison (Civil Engineering 2002)
  • Illinois Institute of Technology (Master of Architecture 2006)
  • Kanye West collaborator 2009+
  • Off-White founded 2013
  • Louis Vuitton Menswear Artistic Director: March 2018
  • Diagnosed 2019 with cardiac angiosarcoma; died 28 November 2021, Chicago at 41

What the Abloh Family Story Teaches Us

Ghanaian immigrant parents. A seamstress mother. A wife of 12 years. A daughter and son. A career that became the first Black Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton — cut short at 41 by cancer he kept secret for 2 years.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Virgil story carries the same lesson. Some careers turn a civil-engineering degree into Louis Vuitton menswear.

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