Off-White, the globally recognized fashion brand founded by the late Virgil Abloh, will finally make its New York Fashion Week debut this September. This move marks a significant milestone for the brand, as it has never before showcased its collections in the United States despite its international success.
Off-White, headquartered in Milan and showing in Paris, defies national categorization, contributing to its global appeal. However, the brand’s absence from American fashion shows has been a noticeable gap in its trajectory.
Ib Kamara, Off-White’s long-standing stylist and now creative director following Abloh’s passing in late 2021, explained that bringing the brand to New York was a long-held plan by Abloh, initially slated for the beginning of 2022. After Abloh’s death, the plan was put on hold, but now Kamara believes the timing is right.
“Bringing Off-White to New York has been on the cards for so long,” Kamara stated during a call. He added, “Now the time feels right to show up. It feels natural to grow and show where so much of the community around the brand is. I think it will be amazing and feel great for Off-White to show for the first time in the city.”
Kamara views New York as a melting pot of diverse cultures where everyone is equal, making it a fitting location for the brand’s debut. “It’s common ground—a melting pot where everybody is equal,” he said.
While Kamara remains tight-lipped about the specifics of the September collection, he hints that it will continue the conversation between West African artisanship and North American sportswear, a theme explored in last season’s offerings. The New York debut will also mark the beginning of a series of further New York-centric initiatives for Off-White.
“I’m just really excited,” Kamara shared, reflecting the anticipation surrounding Off-White’s momentous New York Fashion Week appearance.
