Ibrahim Kamara is the heir of Virgil Abloh.
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After Abloh's untimely death, many wondered what the future of OFF-White would be, who would pick up his legacy, and most importantly, whether he was up to the task. The answer came in the person of Ibrahim Kamara

Here is who the new creative director of Off-White™.

Just five months ago the world lost Virgil Abloh, the visionary genius creator of the Off-White™ brand and art director of Louis Vuitton Men’s.

After his untimely departure, many wondered about the fate of his brand’s future, who would pick up his legacy, and most importantly whether he was up to the task.

The answer came in the person of Ibrahim Kamara; former Abloh collaborator, stylist and editor for the historic i-D and Dazed Magazine, and consluent for several luxury brands, such as Riccardo Tisci and Burberry – to name a few.

 

Born in Sierra Leone in 1990, Kamara grew up in The Gambia and during his teenage years moved with his family to London.

Here, he enrolled at Central Saint Martin and worked on a project entitled “2026”; through which he experimented and imagined the masculinity of the man of the future.

After his excellent course of study, he is hired by Kenzo. From there on, his path in the fashion world would be in constant ascent, until he met Virgil Abloh in 2019.

The two designers immediately struck a chord, which blossomed into friendship first and collaboration later.

Virgil wanted Ibrahim on OFF-White‘s creative team, sharing mutual admiration and common values with him.

Upon news of his appointment as the brand’s artistic director, Ibrahim felt honored to carry on his dear friend’s brand, expressing some emotion:

‘Virgil changed the world and left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him and beyond’

 

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Un post condiviso da Ib Kamara (@ibkamara)

As Abloh himself called him:

‘An Ibrahim Kamara appears only once in a generation’

the Afro-English designer has a unique and original perspective on fashion: has never forgotten his roots, his culture.

His main source of inspiration remains Africa, with its ancestral symbols of protection and abundance, rural beliefs, fascinating ritualistic and tribal traditions-all elements that Ibrahim reworks to create an unprecedented, genderless style.

The vision he had as a child, born and raised on the African continent, admiring and imagining elegant Western style, and the great fashion capitals, designers and fashion shows, will always remain the hallmark of his creative imagination.

Ancestral masks of African reference are a recurring element of his collections, which he mixes with avant-garde details, as if they came from the future.

It must have been this peculiarity of his that literally fascinated Abloh, and it is not surprising that Andrea Grilli, CEO of OFF-White wanted him to head the brand, using these words to make the big announcement:

‘In the wake of Virgil’s tragic passing, we have worked tirelessly to keep his legacy alive and the brand relevant as a reference point and platform that is constantly evolving. Having Ibrahim on board, who has been part of the Off-White family styling our shows for years, to oversee the art and creativity of the brand, in this next chapter is a great honor.’

 

 

Visualizza questo post su Instagram

 

Un post condiviso da Off-White™ (@off____white)

From this point forward, Ibrahim Kamara will sign OFF-White Collections, direct the creative team, and lead the shows.

We will wait with curiosity if there will be a roaring applause at his first fashion show.

WORDS: Manuela Palma

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