Ib Kamara on Why Off-White Is Making its New York Fashion Week Debut: “It’s Common Ground—a Melting Pot”

Off-White was created by the late Virgil Abloh, an Illinois-born visionary of Ghanaian descent. It is headquartered in Milan, and shows in Paris. All this makes it a brand that defies national categorization, which is one part of its international appeal. However what seems almost remiss is that during nine years of operation there has never yet been an Off-White show in the United States. So this September the brand will make its debut at New York Fashion Week.

“Bringing Off-White to New York has been on the cards for so long,” explained Ib Kamara on a call. Kamara was the long-standing stylist for Off-White, and worked alongside Abloh until the founder’s death in late 2021. Since then, he has taken up the mantle as the brand’s creative director. And he shared on the call that Abloh had originally planned to bring Off-White to New York at the beginning of 2022, a plan that was placed on hold after his passing.

“Now the time feels right to show up,” said Kamara: “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.” Of New York, he added: ““It’s common ground—a melting pot where everybody is equal.”

For now Kamara was keen not to reveal anything too specific about his plans for September but did hint that the collection will further last season’s conversation between West African artisanship and North American sportswear. It will also mark the beginning of a series of further New York-centric Off-White actions to come. Said Kamara: “I’m just really excited.”