Off-White is a fashion label founded by Virgil Abloh in 2013. The brand is known for its unique designs and has gained popularity worldwide. Off-White has showrooms in 15 locations and a large following on social media.
Diet Prada, a popular Instagram account known for calling out rip-offs in the fashion industry, pointed out that the Off-White logo was nearly identical to a 1965 Glasgow airport design. The accusation also included plagiarism claims against Calvin Klein's Raf Simons and the Japanese label Anrealage.
Virgil Abloh, the future founder of Off-White, was born on September 30, 1980, in Rockford. Raised by Ghanaian immigrant parents, his mother, a seamstress, played a significant role in introducing him to the world of fashion.
In 2002, Virgil Abloh met with Kanye West's then-manager John Monopoly on the day of his graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This meeting marked the beginning of their official collaboration in the fashion world.
Virgil Abloh, a prominent designer and entrepreneur, launched his fashion brand Off-White in 2012. The brand quickly gained recognition for its unique streetwear aesthetic and innovative designs.
In 2013, Virgil Abloh founded Off-White as a multi-platform creative endeavor, catering to a young audience interested in music, contemporary art, streetwear, and luxury fashion.
In 2014, Off-White showcased its first womenswear line at Paris Fashion Week and was a finalist for the prestigious LVMH Prize. This marked a significant milestone for the brand, gaining recognition in the high-end fashion industry.
In 2017, Off-White collaborated with Nike to redesign 10 of the company's popular styles, leading to a highly sought-after collection of sneakers. The collaboration was a huge success, with resale prices soaring above $1,000.
Off-White™ released a new product, the 'For Riding' waterproof Wellington boot, as showcased on their official Instagram account.
In June 2019, the company partnered with the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago to introduce a new 'University Blue' color of the Nike Air Force One.
In August 2019, José Neves, owner of Farfetch, acquired New Guards Group, the parent company of Off-White, for a significant sum of US$675 million.
During a lecture at Columbia University in February 2020, Virgil Abloh compared his cover art for Kanye West's Yeezus album to the iconic design of a Coca-Cola can, emphasizing the impact of branding on shaping a generation.
On November 28, 2021, Virgil Abloh, the founder of Off-White, died at the age of 41 due to cardiac angiosarcoma, a diagnosis that was not publicly disclosed.
On April 30, 2022, Ib Kamara was named the Art & Image Director for Off-White, taking on a significant role within the fashion house.
Off-White is a prominent streetwear fashion brand that quickly gained global recognition and revolutionized the luxury streetwear market by incorporating the concept of the union of contrasts between black and white in its designs.