Louis Vuitton designer Virgil Abloh dies age 41

Virgil Abloh has died aged 41 (Ian West/PA)

Virgil Abloh, the influential Louis Vuitton menswear designer and founder of fashion label Off-White, has died at the age of 41 after a private battle with cancer, the design house’s parent company LVMH has announced.

The US designer first came to prominence as rapper Kanye West’s creative director but later made history as the first African-American to lead French luxury brand Louis Vuitton.