Shortly after an official announcement that Virgil Abloh had lost his private two-year battle with cardiac angiosarcoma, a rare aggressive form of cancer, Louis Vuitton (PARIS:MC.PA +0.79 percent) announced that his Spring/Summer 2022 collection would be presented posthumously in Miami to “pay tribute to the life and legacy of a creative genius.”

The premium fashion brand displayed a state of the late Artistic Director in front of a crowded gathering of celebrities and fashion figures. The large-scale colourful image of Virgil Abloh shows the late icon gazing up towards the sky while clutching an LV monogrammed canvas, symbolising his artistic attitude. To finish the concert, a succession of drones were employed to build the shape of a paper aeroplane, his initials, and the heartfelt message “Virgil was here.”

View Louis Vuitton’s Virgil Abloh statue above, as well as scenes from the SS22 presentation and an official statement from Michael Burke, Louis Vuitton’s Chairman and CEO, below.

“It is with profound sorrow that I learned of the passing of Virgil Abloh. 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.”

Michael Burke, Louis Vuitton’s Chairman and CEO