Just three weeks after Louis Vuitton and Off-White designer Virgil Abloh`s tragic death, his close friend Drake got a permanent tattoo in tribute for the designer inked on his arm. 
 
According to E! News, Los Angeles-based tattoo artist Joaquin Ganga posted on Instagram the meaningful tattoo he recently created for the rapper, who has an array of ink dedicated to notable figures, including Denzel Washington and Aaliyah."A remembrance of the great Virgil Abloh done on Drake," the caption read. The detailed image, which showed the back of the fashion designer as he launches a kite into the sky above him, closely resembled a photo of Abloh from 2018, where he`s seen floating a Louis Vuitton kite from the runway of a show in Paris. 
 
The Off-White label founder died on November 28 at the age of 41 after a private battle with a rare form of cancer. Following news of his tragic passing, Drake took to Instagram to honour his friend. "My plan is to touch the sky 1000 more times for you. Love you eternally brother, thank you for everything," he captioned a series of photos. 
 
In March 2020, Abloh had helped with the design of Drake's private jet, which was unveiled to have a sky-blue, cloud-covered makeover, a nod to the cover art for Drake`s 2013 album, `Nothing Was The Same`. 
 
As per E! News, Abloh also designed a Patek Philippe Nautilus watch for him, with Drake giving the designer and his work a shout-out in his 2020 single with rapper Future called `Life Is Good`. Drake rapped on the track, "Virgil got a Patek on my wrist going nuts."

Just three weeks after Louis Vuitton and Off-White designer Virgil Abloh`s tragic death, his close friend Drake got a permanent tattoo in tribute for the designer inked on his arm.

Just three weeks after Louis Vuitton and Off-White designer Virgil Abloh`s tragic death, his close friend Drake got a permanent tattoo in tribute for the designer inked on his arm. According to E! News, Los Angeles-based tattoo artist Joaquin Ganga posted on Instagram the meaningful tattoo he recently created for the rapper, who has an array of ink dedicated to notable figures, including Denzel Washington and Aaliyah."A remembrance of the great Virgil Abloh done on Drake," the caption read. The detailed image, which showed the back of the fashion designer as he launches a kite into the sky above him, closely resembled a photo of Abloh from 2018, where he`s seen floating a Louis Vuitton kite from the runway of a show in Paris. The Off-White label founder died on November 28 at the age of 41 after a private battle with a rare form of cancer. Following news of his tragic passing, Drake took to Instagram to honour his friend. "My plan is to touch the sky 1000 more times for you. Love you eternally brother, thank you for everything," he captioned a series of photos. In March 2020, Abloh had helped with the design of Drake's private jet, which was unveiled to have a sky-blue, cloud-covered makeover, a nod to the cover art for Drake`s 2013 album, `Nothing Was The Same`. As per E! News, Abloh also designed a Patek Philippe Nautilus watch for him, with Drake giving the designer and his work a shout-out in his 2020 single with rapper Future called `Life Is Good`. Drake rapped on the track, "Virgil got a Patek on my wrist going nuts."

Drake gets new tattoo in honour of late friend Virgil Abloh

&nbsp;It was a "kid in a candy store" moment for Billie Essco when he found himself in a cavernous space beneath the Louvre Museum in January last year, backstage before a show for fashion designer Virgil Abloh`s luxury streetwear label Off-White. 
 
Essco, a 31-year-old Black American artist, musician and clothing designer from Buffalo, New York had made a last-minute decision to join his friend, rapper Westside Gunn, on a trip to Paris with hopes of sneaking into a show during Fashion Week. 
 
He never would have dreamt of hanging out with Abloh, who besides being the founder of Off-White, was the menswear designer for Louis Vuitton - the world`s biggest luxury brand owned by French giant LVMH. 
 
"I`ve been channelling this man, his energy and his designs for the last five years and now I`m here seeing things that the world hasn`t seen yet," said Essco, also known as Uptown Chase. 
 
"Fashion was such a closed-knit, niche thing, it was a kind of insider, `if you know, you know` -- I believe that Virgil opened it up for people like me to come in, into this community." 
 
Abloh, fashion`s highest-profile Black designer, died on Sunday at just 41 after a private battle with a rare form of cancer. As recently as July he had been promoted to work across LVMH`s 75 brands. 
 
Fellow creative directors at rival groups, from Gucci`s Alessandro Michele to Donatella Versace, have praised his vision. A tribute nL1N2SL3V8 runway show of his final collection, held in Miami on Tuesday, drew a high-profile crowd including his long-time friend, musician and fashion designer Ye - formerly known as Kanye West - and LVMH billionaire boss Bernard Arnault. 
 
But for people like Essco, skateboarding teenagers in his home city of Chicago and orphaned West African refugees in Paris playing for a French amateur football team in Abloh-designed T-shirts, his name and influence resonated well beyond the traditional, rarefied world of luxury. 
 
`SPARKS AND FLAIR` 
 
A first-generation Ghanaian American, Abloh - who also worked as a DJ and visual artist - was not a classically trained designer. He often said he drew inspiration from what he saw in the street. 
 
Essco, who studied fashion design at Buffalo State College, had followed Abloh`s rise over the years and appreciated how he brought together hip-hop culture and fashion, breaking boundaries at a time when styles were mostly clean-cut and traditional, and lacking "sparks and flair". 
 
Abloh`s early work applying large print logos to Ralph Lauren flannel shirts echoed with Essco, who was at the time experimenting with screen printing on garments sourced from local second-hand shops. Later, after founding Off-White, the designer reposted an image of a model in a hoodie that Essco had styled on Instagram. 
 
"I realized myself through following him as a person, and as a man, it just taught me that I wasn`t crazy, and I could be exactly who I wanted to be - I could be from the hood, but college educated," said Essco. 
 
He described Abloh`s approach as "creating a space where you can all be in the room instead of having to pick a side - because we come from a place where you choose to do one thing and that`s it, you`ve got to stick with it". 
 
During his January 2020 trip to Paris, Abloh offered Gunn and Essco invitations to his label`s catwalk show, after-parties and the highly coveted Louis Vuitton show. 
 
"To see not only how human he was but how similar he was to my friends, and to myself, I was like, ah, we could do this – not only could we do this, but finally, it`s being done," he said.

It was a "kid in a candy store" moment for Billie Essco when he found himself in a cavernous space beneath the Louvre Museum in January last year, backstage before a show for fashion designer Virgil Abloh`s luxury streetwear label Off-White.

It was a "kid in a candy store" moment for Billie Essco when he found himself in a cavernous space beneath the Louvre Museum in January last year, backstage before a show for fashion designer Virgil Abloh`s luxury streetwear label Off-White. Essco, a 31-year-old Black American artist, musician and clothing designer from Buffalo, New York had made a last-minute decision to join his friend, rapper Westside Gunn, on a trip to Paris with hopes of sneaking into a show during Fashion Week. He never would have dreamt of hanging out with Abloh, who besides being the founder of Off-White, was the menswear designer for Louis Vuitton - the world`s biggest luxury brand owned by French giant LVMH. "I`ve been channelling this man, his energy and his designs for the last five years and now I`m here seeing things that the world hasn`t seen yet," said Essco, also known as Uptown Chase. "Fashion was such a closed-knit, niche thing, it was a kind of insider, `if you know, you know` -- I believe that Virgil opened it up for people like me to come in, into this community." Abloh, fashion`s highest-profile Black designer, died on Sunday at just 41 after a private battle with a rare form of cancer. As recently as July he had been promoted to work across LVMH`s 75 brands. Fellow creative directors at rival groups, from Gucci`s Alessandro Michele to Donatella Versace, have praised his vision. A tribute nL1N2SL3V8 runway show of his final collection, held in Miami on Tuesday, drew a high-profile crowd including his long-time friend, musician and fashion designer Ye - formerly known as Kanye West - and LVMH billionaire boss Bernard Arnault. But for people like Essco, skateboarding teenagers in his home city of Chicago and orphaned West African refugees in Paris playing for a French amateur football team in Abloh-designed T-shirts, his name and influence resonated well beyond the traditional, rarefied world of luxury. `SPARKS AND FLAIR` A first-generation Ghanaian American, Abloh - who also worked as a DJ and visual artist - was not a classically trained designer. He often said he drew inspiration from what he saw in the street. Essco, who studied fashion design at Buffalo State College, had followed Abloh`s rise over the years and appreciated how he brought together hip-hop culture and fashion, breaking boundaries at a time when styles were mostly clean-cut and traditional, and lacking "sparks and flair". Abloh`s early work applying large print logos to Ralph Lauren flannel shirts echoed with Essco, who was at the time experimenting with screen printing on garments sourced from local second-hand shops. Later, after founding Off-White, the designer reposted an image of a model in a hoodie that Essco had styled on Instagram. "I realized myself through following him as a person, and as a man, it just taught me that I wasn`t crazy, and I could be exactly who I wanted to be - I could be from the hood, but college educated," said Essco. He described Abloh`s approach as "creating a space where you can all be in the room instead of having to pick a side - because we come from a place where you choose to do one thing and that`s it, you`ve got to stick with it". During his January 2020 trip to Paris, Abloh offered Gunn and Essco invitations to his label`s catwalk show, after-parties and the highly coveted Louis Vuitton show. "To see not only how human he was but how similar he was to my friends, and to myself, I was like, ah, we could do this – not only could we do this, but finally, it`s being done," he said.

Louis Vuitton designer Virgil Abloh's charisma extended beyond luxury

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West put their differences aside as they come together for late designer Virgil Abloh’s final show for Louis Vuitton in Miami. The estranged couple, with daughter North West, paid homage to Abloh at his Spring-Summer 2022 Collection in Miami on Tuesday, which was his final presentation for the brand he was with.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West put their differences aside as they come together for late designer Virgil Abloh’s final show for Louis Vuitton in Miami. The estranged couple, with daughter North West, paid homage to Abloh at his Spring-Summer 2022 Collection in Miami on Tuesday, which was his final presentation for the brand he was with. Kardashian and West were at the front row for Abloh’s final show, which was an ode to the designer’s life and legacy, at Miami’s Marine Stadium with daughter North. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Julien Da Costa (@juliendc) × Reports suggest there was no apparent awkwardness between the estranged couple. Kim is dating Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson while West has been openly talking about reuniting with her and bringing the family together, again. Also read: Amazing! Helen Mirren as 'Iron Lady' Golda Meir has left onlookers perplexed: Pics Virgil Abloh was the founder of streetwear brand Off-White and also a DJ. He died at the age of 41 on Sunday following a private, two-year battle with cardiac angiosarcoma: a rare form of cancer. The designer was a frequent collaborator with West and has also worked as creative director for the rapper’s design agency Donda. He had also art-directed the cover artwork for West’s albums 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' and 'Yeezus'. In honor of Virgil Abloh, a true creative genius, visionary, and disruptor, Louis Vuitton presents his Spring-Summer 2022 Collection in Miami. https://t.co/4jvQF3KKK5 — Louis Vuitton (@LouisVuitton) November 30, 2021 × After the launch of his own label, Abloh became a household name in luxury streetwear and was signed to run Louis Vuitton’s menswear division in 2008. In a post on the brand’s Instagram page, Michael Burke, Louis Vuitton’s chairman and CEO, talked about Abloh's wish to carry on. “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 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," read the post. Abloh’s family revealed on social media that he chose to keep his diagnosis to himself while “undergoing numerous challenging treatments" and continued to work in the field of fashion. Also read: Most watched movie of all time? It's none other than Dwayne's 'Red Notice' “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, " read another part of the post. As for Kim's romance with Davidson, a source told an entertainment portal, “She’s (Kim Kardashian) acting like a teenager. She’s constantly giggling. Pete has made her feel like the clock has moved 20 years back. She seems happy." “He’s so funny and is a really good person. All of the friends love him. He’s the sweetest person,” the source said of Davidson. Meanwhile, on last Thursday, Kanye West dropped a five-minute video he titled as "Thanksgiving Prayer 🕊." The video sees a choir in black hoodies singing in a poorly lit warehouse and there are socially distanced guests sitting in chairs. Kanye cannot be seen in the video but one can hear his voice as he touches upon a variety of topics. He owns up to the mistakes he says he's made in the past: that range from embarrassing Kim and his family by running for President to his out-of-control drinking that led to multiple 'manic episodes'. "All I think about every day is how I get my family back together and how I heal the pain that I've caused. I take accountability for my actions. New word alert: misactions. The one thing that all my successes and failures have in common is me," he said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ye (@kanyewest) × Kanye admitted that he would drink "to take the stress away and knock the edge off," but it did more harm than good. Also read: Avril Lavigne talks about tattoos, album and blooming romance to Ellen DeGeneres "Drinking affected my health and the health of people around me because I already had a hair trigger temper and this just heightened it. I went into a manic episode in 2016 and I was placed under heavy medication. Since then, I went on and off the medication, which left me susceptible to other episodes, which my wife and family and fans have had to endure," he explained. As for embarrassing his family, Ye said, "Good Lord my wife did not like me wearing the red hat. Being a good wife she just wanted to protect me and our family." "I made me and our family a target by not aligning with Hollywood's political stance, and that was hard for our marriage. Then, I ran for president without proper preparation and no allies on either side. I embarrassed my wife in the way that I presented information about our family during the one, and thank God only, press conference," he said. Kanye West concluded his Thanksgiving prayer with this note: "This Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for the family that my wife has given me. I'm thankful for the life that God has given me. And I'm thankful for your time, attention and patience. In Jesus name, amen." Also read: British Fashion Awards: Priyanka Chopra takes the fashion quotient high with Nick Jonas

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West come together for Virgil Abloh tribute in Miami

The British Fashion Council's usually glitzy annual awards honoured a host of prominent industry names in sombre style on Monday following the death of Louis Vuitton designer Virgil Abloh.

The 2021 ceremony, at London's Royal Albert Hall, saw Kim Jones win "designer of the year", for Dior Men and Fendi, and Tommy Hilfiger lauded with the "outstanding achievement award".

Meanwhile, British designer Stella McCartney and editor-in-chief of British Vogue Edward Enninful were among 15 recognised as "leaders of change".

But the event was overshadowed by the passing of Abloh, who died Sunday aged 41 after battling cancer for several years.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-designer-sabyasachi-mukherjee-trolled-for-featuring-unhappy-models-in-jewellery-ad-432765" hreflang="en">Indian luxury fashion designer trolled for featuring 'unhappy models' in jewellery ad</a>

Louis Vuitton's trailblazing head of menswear, and the first black artistic director at a major French luxury label, was also named a leader of change and eulogised throughout the evening.

A minute's silence was observed at the beginning of the show in memory of the late founder of brand Off-White and DJ, before British actor Idris Elba recited the Maya Angelou poem "When Great Trees Fall".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-louis-vuitton-to-hold-virgil-abloh-tribute-show-in-miami-following-his-death-432823" hreflang="en">Louis Vuitton to hold Virgil Abloh tribute show in Miami following his death</a>

"Virgil Abloh was the true embodiment of creativity," the BFC said in its statement following the ceremony.

"With Off-White, Abloh reimagined what fashion design means, and at Louis Vuitton Men, he did not just made luxury relatable to culture, he made it culture."

The annual fundraiser for the BFC Foundation was held virtually in 2020 due to the pandemic but the red carpet returned to London this year.

US actress Demi Moore, Indian actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas and British rapper Kano were among the presenters.

Nominees and winners were voted for by an international panel of industry experts of over 1000 people, with two general awards and four "special recognition awards handed out alongside the 15 "leaders of change" gongs.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-spider-man-no-way-home-to-matrix-4-big-december-releases-you-cannot-miss-432729" hreflang="en">'Money Heist' S5 to 'Matrix 4': Big December releases you cannot miss</a>

In a first this year, the BFC unveiled an award for "metaverse design" which "recognises a digital designer who pushes the boundaries and showcases excellence in digital fashion design" within the virtual reality space.

The inaugural winner, cSapphire -- which designs online clothing -- beat out competition from four other fashion creators on the Roblox digital platform.

The British Fashion Council's usually glitzy annual awards honoured a host of prominent industry names in sombre style on Monday following the death of Louis Vuitton designer Virgil Abloh.

The British Fashion Council's usually glitzy annual awards honoured a host of prominent industry names in sombre style on Monday following the death of Louis Vuitton designer Virgil Abloh. The 2021 ceremony, at London's Royal Albert Hall, saw Kim Jones win "designer of the year", for Dior Men and Fendi, and Tommy Hilfiger lauded with the "outstanding achievement award". Meanwhile, British designer Stella McCartney and editor-in-chief of British Vogue Edward Enninful were among 15 recognised as "leaders of change". But the event was overshadowed by the passing of Abloh, who died Sunday aged 41 after battling cancer for several years. Indian luxury fashion designer trolled for featuring 'unhappy models' in jewellery ad Louis Vuitton's trailblazing head of menswear, and the first black artistic director at a major French luxury label, was also named a leader of change and eulogised throughout the evening. A minute's silence was observed at the beginning of the show in memory of the late founder of brand Off-White and DJ, before British actor Idris Elba recited the Maya Angelou poem "When Great Trees Fall". Louis Vuitton to hold Virgil Abloh tribute show in Miami following his death "Virgil Abloh was the true embodiment of creativity," the BFC said in its statement following the ceremony. "With Off-White, Abloh reimagined what fashion design means, and at Louis Vuitton Men, he did not just made luxury relatable to culture, he made it culture." The annual fundraiser for the BFC Foundation was held virtually in 2020 due to the pandemic but the red carpet returned to London this year. US actress Demi Moore, Indian actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas and British rapper Kano were among the presenters. Nominees and winners were voted for by an international panel of industry experts of over 1000 people, with two general awards and four "special recognition awards handed out alongside the 15 "leaders of change" gongs. 'Money Heist' S5 to 'Matrix 4': Big December releases you cannot miss In a first this year, the BFC unveiled an award for "metaverse design" which "recognises a digital designer who pushes the boundaries and showcases excellence in digital fashion design" within the virtual reality space. The inaugural winner, cSapphire -- which designs online clothing -- beat out competition from four other fashion creators on the Roblox digital platform.

UK fashion awards honour Virgil Abloh and other big-hitters

Louis Vuitton will show the latest collection drawn up by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-visionary-fashion-designer-virgil-abloh-dies-aged-41-432638">Virgil Abloh</a> on a catwalk in Miami on Tuesday, transforming the planned event into a tribute to the designer who passed away suddenly on Sunday. 
 
"In loving memory of Virgil Abloh, Louis Vuitton pays tribute to the life and legacy of a creative genius with a presentation of his Spring-Summer 2022 Collection," said the brand, which belongs to LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH.PA), in an Instagram post featuring a teaser video showing a girl setting off on a bicycle tour that ends on a beach lined with palm trees.

<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/lifestyle/news-fashion-designer-virgil-abloh-dead-kanye-west-bts-drake--others-share-tributes-432652" hreflang="en">Fashion designer Virgil Abloh dead: Kanye West, BTS, Drake &amp; others share tributes</a> 
 
Abloh, 41, died on Sunday after privately battling a rare form of cancer, taking the fashion industry by surprise, including those who worked closely with him. 
 
"On Saturday evening, @virgilabloh and I wrote our last words for his @louisvuitton show in Miami," said British Vogue fashion critic Anders Christian Madsen.

<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/lifestyle/news-virgil-abloh-the-man-who-brought-the-street-to-the-catwalk-432640" hreflang="en">Virgil Abloh: the man who brought the street to the catwalk</a> 
 
"He never stopped, and neither did those of us around him," he added, noting that he had booked Sunday for the "inevitable stream of ideas" he`s always sent me for our 90-page LV show notes a day before showtime. 
 
Abloh, the American-born son of Ghanaian immigrants, studied architecture before rising to become fashion`s highest-profile Black designer, symbolizing the arrival of streetwear in the realm of luxury when he took up the creative direction of men`s designs for Louis Vuitton in 2018. 
 
Fashion shows for his Italian luxury streetwear label Off-White were famously packed events, drawing crowds that spilled out into the streets. Abloh was known for inviting industry outsiders, mixing students and skateboarders with stars from the worlds of design, music and sports, to catwalk presentations. 
 
"Everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself," he was quoted as often saying, as relayed by an Instagram post announcing his passing on his account. 
 
"As a devoted supporter of his community through his charities and passions, he was an eternal optimist who believed anything was possible," Michael Burke, chairman and chief executive officer of Louis Vuitton, said in a statement.

Louis Vuitton will show the latest collection drawn up by Virgil Abloh on a catwalk in Miami on Tuesday, transforming the planned event into a tribute to the designer who passed away suddenly on Sunday.

Louis Vuitton will show the latest collection drawn up by Virgil Abloh on a catwalk in Miami on Tuesday, transforming the planned event into a tribute to the designer who passed away suddenly on Sunday. "In loving memory of Virgil Abloh, Louis Vuitton pays tribute to the life and legacy of a creative genius with a presentation of his Spring-Summer 2022 Collection," said the brand, which belongs to LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH.PA), in an Instagram post featuring a teaser video showing a girl setting off on a bicycle tour that ends on a beach lined with palm trees. Fashion designer Virgil Abloh dead: Kanye West, BTS, Drake & others share tributes Abloh, 41, died on Sunday after privately battling a rare form of cancer, taking the fashion industry by surprise, including those who worked closely with him. "On Saturday evening, @virgilabloh and I wrote our last words for his @louisvuitton show in Miami," said British Vogue fashion critic Anders Christian Madsen. Virgil Abloh: the man who brought the street to the catwalk "He never stopped, and neither did those of us around him," he added, noting that he had booked Sunday for the "inevitable stream of ideas" he`s always sent me for our 90-page LV show notes a day before showtime. Abloh, the American-born son of Ghanaian immigrants, studied architecture before rising to become fashion`s highest-profile Black designer, symbolizing the arrival of streetwear in the realm of luxury when he took up the creative direction of men`s designs for Louis Vuitton in 2018. Fashion shows for his Italian luxury streetwear label Off-White were famously packed events, drawing crowds that spilled out into the streets. Abloh was known for inviting industry outsiders, mixing students and skateboarders with stars from the worlds of design, music and sports, to catwalk presentations. "Everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself," he was quoted as often saying, as relayed by an Instagram post announcing his passing on his account. "As a devoted supporter of his community through his charities and passions, he was an eternal optimist who believed anything was possible," Michael Burke, chairman and chief executive officer of Louis Vuitton, said in a statement.

Louis Vuitton to hold Virgil Abloh tribute show in Miami following his death