Off-White Has Found A Person—Or Rather, A Team—To Succeed Late Virgil Abloh
Image via Off-White
Off-White isn’t replacing founder and former artistic director Virgil Abloh, who passed away almost six months ago after a private battle with aggressive heart cancer. However, it’s found someone to helm a collective who will fill in his shoes.
The street label has appointed Dazed editor-in-chief Ibrahim Kamara as its Art and Image Director.
Moving forward, Kamara will “be joining a collective of creatives and overseeing the artistic direction of the brand,” explains Off-White in a statement, elaborating that Kamara “will further develop his influence and insight on the brand’s collections, image and content.”
Kamara’s role points to a new collaborative vision that Off-White parent company New Guards Group had been contemplating post-Abloh. As Business of Fashion quoted from New Guards Group co-founder Davide De Giglio in February, the brand was moving into a group approach, “a movement,” if you will, in a similar fashion to Linux’s open-source nature. “The software pattern” transforms with contribution from several individuals, De Giglio explained then.
Like Abloh, Kamara’s roots aren’t in design. The two first communicated through Instagram DMs, and their friendship and business relationship grew over the last three years as they collaborated on major fashion shows and advertising campaigns. During this time, they built “a strong bond based on mutual respect and shared values,” says Off-White.
“With [Kamara’s] talent and vision we look forward to taking on the next chapter of Off-White together, always remembering the groundbreaking creativity and values that Virgil had at heart and that are the core of our brand,” shares Off-White CEO Andrea Grilli.
In his first official statement as Off-White’s artistic leader, Kamara pens: “Virgil will forever be with us. With me. He changed the world and left an indelible mark on anyone who encountered him and beyond.”
“Generous with his time, mind and creativity—he saw everyone and created with all humans in mind,” he continues. “I am honored to further link my ties to Off-White as their Art & Image Director and be a part of the team that will tell the rest of the story Virgil started writing for us all.”
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