Virgil Abloh’s Final Fashion Collection Gets A Walk Down A Waterfront Runway

Louis Vuitton honored Virgil Abloh with a catwalk presentation of the designer’s final style assortment in Miami on Tuesday, simply days after his sudden demise prompted an outpouring of tributes on social media from a broad spectrum of followers.

The memorial occasion kicked off with a red-logoed scorching air balloon hovering over Marine Stadium in Miami. Chicago-based rapper Scott “Kid Cudi" Mescudi walked the runway before a live audience that included streetwear designer Don Crawley, known as Don C, and rapper ASAP Ferg, according to Instagram posts.

Models carried blue and pink lockbox purses, as well as gray duffle bags for men. Some were clad in Vuitton jerseys, while others wore black top hats, bright red jumpsuits and blue suits for men.

As the show began, roughly 16,000 viewers tuned in to watch on YouTube.

Abloh, the American-born son of Ghanaian immigrants and the fashion industry’s highest-profile black designer, died Sunday at age 41 following a private battle with cancer. The brand, which is owned by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, decided to move ahead with a catwalk show that had been in the works, transforming it into a tribute to Abloh.