Off White clothing brand – who owns it?

In the fashion world, where the line between haute couture and street style is becoming increasingly blurred, it’s impossible not to mention Off-White. The Off-White clothing brand has sparked excitement from the very beginning—blending urban edge with luxury finishes and redefining the concept of streetwear. But behind every logo lies a story. Today, we’ll take a closer look at the one behind Off-White: where it came from, who runs it, and what its future looks like after the founder’s departure.

Off White clothing brand – a vision that transformed the face of street fashion

The birth of Off-White in 2012 was no accident, but the result of years of maturation of a truly exceptional mind. Its creator, Virgil Abloh, is a remarkable figure – an engineer by degree, DJ, artist, and designer who lacked formal fashion education, yet possessed something far more valuable: a keen sense of aesthetics and an ability to read culture. Before launching his own brand, he gained experience as an art director alongside Kanye West. It was this collaboration on creative projects within DONDA (West’s creative agency) that opened the doors to the world of high fashion. In 2013, just a year after founding Off-White, his designs began appearing on Paris runways, setting trends and blazing new trails in fashion.

What set the Off-White clothing brand apart from the very beginning? It responded to the evolving needs of young consumers—aware, progressive, looking for fashion that means more than just “looks good.” Abloh didn’t just design clothes; he created context—both aesthetic and cultural. His designs, featuring signature quotation marks (like “SHOELACES” on laces or “SCULPTURE” on bags), became a manifesto for treating fashion as a form of social commentary.

At the same time, Off-White became a pioneer in merging the world of luxury with authentic street style. Instead of choosing one over the other, Abloh decided to blend both extremes. He used premium materials without abandoning a raw aesthetic.All of this quickly captured the imagination of fashion fans and was recognized as the new classic of streetwear, while also becoming one of the most luxurious clothing brands in the world.

The fate of the brand after the death of Virgil Abloh

The designer’s death in November 2021 was a tremendous blow not only to the fashion world, but to culture as a whole. Abloh, just 41 years old, passed away after a two-year private battle with a rare form of cancer—cardiac angiosarcoma. News of his passing sent shockwaves through the industry. A designer who had appeared in public just weeks earlier became a legend overnight. For many, a natural question arose: what’s next for Off-White? Can a brand so closely tied to one distinctive personality survive without its founder?

The response came quickly and was a clear signal that Off-White was not going to disappear from the market—quite the opposite. Even before Abloh’s passing, in July 2021, the French luxury giant LVMH announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Off-White . The group took over 60% of the brand’s shares, while the remaining 40% stayed in the hands of Abloh’s family and his own company, Virgil Abloh™. This move was no coincidence. LVMH had been collaborating with Abloh for years, especially after his appointment as artistic director of the men’s line at Louis Vuitton in 2018. Acquiring Off-White was a strategic decision aimed at securing the brand’s legacy while also enabling its global expansion and growth.

In practice, this meant full support for continuing Abloh’s vision while preserving the aesthetics, visual language, and creative spirit that defined Off-White’s success. LVMH, with brands like Dior, Givenchy, and Celine in its portfolio, had no intention of turning Off-White into another “corporate” line. The goal was to maintain its authenticity and close connection with a young, conscious community. For several months after Abloh’s passing, the brand operated in a kind of transitional state. Collections were based on concepts already prepared, with the design team that had worked alongside him for years. At the same time, the search was on for someone who could take the helm and lead Off-White into a new era. So who is the brand’s next director?

Announcement of the new creative director

In February 2023, it was announced that Ibrahim Kamara would become the new artistic director of the fashion brand Off-White. A figure no less fascinating and just as deeply rooted in contemporary culture. Kamara was born in Sierra Leone, grew up in Gambia, and later moved to London. From an early age, he stood out not only for his sense of style but also for his bold approach to exploring identity in fashion. Before joining Off-White, Kamara was best known as the editor-in-chief of Dazed magazine and as an independent stylist collaborating with the biggest names in the industry—from Burberry and Louis Vuitton to Rihanna and Beyoncé.

His aesthetic? Cultural depth, boldness in deconstructing norms, and a celebration of diversity. Choosing Kamara as Abloh’s successor was therefore not only logical but also symbolic—he continued the revolution Abloh had begun. Since taking the helm, Kamara has introduced a new visual language to the brand while preserving its core: graphic audacity, a dialogue with youth culture, and the ability to comment on contemporary reality. His first collections for Off-White blend raw energy with a more poetic layer of storytelling. They reveal influences of African art, postcolonial reflection, and a profound respect for the idea of “clothing as narrative.”

In interviews with the media, Kamara emphasizes that he doesn’t want to “replace” Abloh, but rather build on his legacy with respect for street culture. This approach has been praised by both the industry and loyal fans of the brand, who are closely following the new chapter of the luxury brand Off-White.