Virgil Abloh was one of the most innovative and groundbreaking talents in the fashion world and when he suddenly passed away last November there was an enormous hole left in the fashion industry. The creative director of Louis Vuitton and founder of Off-White was such a unique force that it has taken both brands time to find a suitable replacement for him, but Off-White have finally announced the talent following on from the late designer.
Off-White have announced that IB Kamara will be taking on the role of their new art and image director. IB Kamara is no stranger to the fashion world, with the new director being most known as the editor-in-chief of fashion magazine Dazed which has always had a strong reputation for being visually distinct amongst its contemporaries. Kamara also had a strong relationship with Virgil Abloh, so the brand is undoubtedly in safe hands with his hiring. The two initially started messaging through Instagram DMs and over time eventually grew into a personal and professional relationship which was held up by mutual respect and shared values.
Speaking on Virgil, Kamara said:
“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. 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”
Kamara isn’t new to Off-White either, having previously styled some previous shows for the brand, as well as for other brands including Ricardo Tisci. Kamara’s work has been rich in mixing high fashion with cultural diversity, as well as frequently questioning gender and identity. As part of his new position Kamara will be heavily focused on continuing and nurturing the brand’s distinct image and legacy whilst also now injecting his own creative spin into campaigns and collections. With Off-White having such a distinct visual identity in the fashion world it’s definitely going to be interesting to see what kind of direction the brand now begins to take.
Words By Andrew Coyle
Photo Credit: Off White Instagram
