On February 23rd, visionary James Lillis, better known as JL, was confirmed to have passed away during a holiday. Unfortunately, the CEO and Founder got into an accident on vacation with his family. Lillis was taken to the hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. The only solace is that his amazing wife, two daughters, and best friend were able to be with him until the end.
His passing had an immense impact on those who worked with and experienced him. Many people, especially his Black Milk team, took to social media to share their testimonials Moreover, the Black Milk team created the hashtag, #jlforever, which fans and friends can use to add their own JL story. In a statement, his team had this to say about the news of his passing:
“We have some deeply personal news to deliver from the BlackMilk team. Our Founder James, or as some of you know, jL, had an accident while on holiday.”
“He managed to hold on until his wife Linda, their 2 daughters, and his best friend arrived to be by his side, but he succumbed to his injuries and passed away peacefully.”
“We are all shocked and grieving. And while we take a moment to process and support each other, we’re calling on our community, our sharkies, for an OG (original) love bomb.”
James Lillis started Black Milk (often stylized as BlackMilk) in 2009. The Brisbane label was made famous through its stylized leggings that come in an array of patterns and feature designs from collaborated brands. Celebrities such as Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus were seen wearing Black Milk clothing, and the style of clothing is popular among people who wear alternative styles (ie. Goths, Punks, and Gamers.)
The Austrailian-based global brand amassed over 1.1 million followers on Instagram and over 2 million followers across all social media platforms. Black Milk has come a long way since James Lillis was “broke” and making clothing with a sewing machine from selling his CD player.
James’ team is dedicated to continuing his mission and build upon his legacy saying this in a statement,
“As hard as it is, we know that James would want us to continue sharing all the shiny goodness and build on his legacy. So this week we will be posting some of our regular content, as well as sharing fun stories and memories from over the years to celebrate James.”
