Kanye West

" Virgil gave me The Ability to think and imagine I could be in spaces that weren't necessarily for Black People in the First Place . "

From musicians to models to sports stars, many people have paid tribute to designer Virgil Abloh This Week .

On Sunday it was announced The Founder of the Off-White fashion label.

He became recognised while working as Kanye West 's creative Director - and later made history as The First African-American to lead Louis Vuitton .

But his influence has not been limited to those in The Celebrity world.

Radio 1 Newsbeat has been speaking to fashion designers and students about The Legacy Virgil Abloh leaves behind.

" He opened The Doors for A Generation of thinkers from marginalised communities, " says Maxwell Shoroye.

Maxwell is a graduate and designer in men's fashion, and the 23-year-old credits Virgil for his impact on The Black community.

" Virgil gave us The Ability to dream, Because we [Black People ] don't necessarily see ourselves in the media in good ways. "

And that's something Bianca Saunders can relate to.

The 28-year-old has her own menswear brand (also called Bianca Saunders), and feels having a black person at the very top of the industry has been " influential".

Bianca already had a sense of what her brand would be when she was a Student - But seeing Virgil achieve as much as he did inspired her.

" It gave me an idea of where the Glass Ceiling could actually go - Because there's not many people that look Like Me in the industry in terms of being black and in fashion. "

Bianca feels it's possible for black creatives to have their own brands and believes there are opportunities Out There .

Fashion Student Kiara Morris feels Virgil represented Something Special .

" He showed you can make it and not To Let anything ever Hold You Back , " Kiara, 20, says.

" The Fashion industry has been traditionally white and Middle Class . But hearing him speak in interviews, it felt like that's what Black Excellence is about. "

Kiara feels Virgil showed " there's a space" for Black People , particularly in luxury retail and fashion.

" I'm not saying I'll be like him, But I have someone to Look Up to.

" And I want to say Thank You [to him] for showing me I can have a seat at The Table . "

Rip Virgil Abloh ?

No One will forget the impact you had. God Bless you My Friend .

It's Virgil's multiple talents that made him such an innovative and disruptive figure.

As well As One of The Most influential designers in The Fashion industry, he was also a DJ, an artist, and had degrees in Civil Engineering and architecture.

" When you look at his work you wonder how he did it? And Then you realise it's through his Hard Work , taking opportunities and his creative genius, " Kiara says.

Maxwell adds: " Virgil knew The Power of combining different walks or different industries to create new things. "

Having a range of voices and stories " makes fashion exciting, " which is what Virgil was able to do, he says.

And that's what Maxwell is trying to bring to his own identity as a designer.

Virgil inspired me greatly to leave my traditional path and push towards the career I wanted. Rip to a legendary figure and someone who inspired more people than he would ever know ?️?️

To see a Black Man in fashion break doors down The Way he did, inspired me for a lifetime, Rest In Peace Virgil ?

But it's not just the creative genius which makes Virgil a standout, according to both Bianca and Kiara.

Bianca met Virgil for the First Time this year and says it's not just his professional skills that make him stand Out - But that he was " super nice".

" In terms of offering advice, saying I could message him any time. "

" He was always a person grateful to be here, and I felt like he wanted people to know that as well. "

Kiara says the tributes that have come in from so many different people show " there's something about The Way he works".

" Everyone loved him. He wasn't someone that I ever saw as problematic or a bad person, just someone who's genuine. "

" Virgil has shifted The World and I hope fashion follows in his footsteps and has this mass integration of different communities coming together, " Maxwell adds.

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Listen to Newsbeat at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen Back .

Source of news: bbc.com