Designer Ibrahim “Ib” Kamara wove together the brand’s African heritage and the pursuit of the American dream, resulting in a collection that is as eclectic as it is exciting.
The coming together of African and American sensibilities defined Off-White’s spring/summer 2025 collection showcased at the New York Fashion Week—quite unbelievably the label’s first-ever appearance at the biannual event.
Designer Ibrahim “Ib” Kamara drew inspiration from a recent trip to Ghana in West Africa, the homeland of the brand’s late founder, Virgil Abloh, as per L’Officiel USA. The Sierra Leonean, London-based journalist—Abloh’s handpicked successor—wove together “themes of African heritage and the pursuit of opportunity in America,” resulting in a collection that echoes both cultural depth and contemporary style.
“I have vivid memories of what America, and New York in particular, represented in the collective imagination of Africans: a dreamland of utopias made real, a place of opportunities,” Kamara told Hypebeast.
On Off-White’s first-ever runway show at the New York Fashion Week, the 34-year-old said in an interview with The New York Times: “I think it’s important for Off-White to have a New York moment and fill the city with optimism.”
For Off-White’s womenswear, deep V-neck silhouettes—so deep it plunged down the belly button—with fishnet skirts balanced sensuality and an “architecturally-informed” form.
Menswear, meanwhile, went all-out street style—but with cultural twists. Sleeveless hoodies were reimagined with zippered sections running down the torso. Varsity jackets carried reinterpretations of Off-White’s signature branding, created in collaboration with Ghanaian artist Nan Danso for a unique African touch. For that American twist, athletic influences were evident in every piece, with several tops inspired by sports jerseys.
Indeed, Kamara’s collection is a nod to Abloh’s roots and a celebration of cross-cultural creativity.
Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 2 was transformed into a massive basketball court for the brand’s highly anticipated. New York Fashion Week show. Titled “Duty Free,” the spring/summer 2025 collection is an exciting, eclectic mix of America and Africa through the lens of athletic wear.
The front row at the show was star-studded. Among the A-listers that graced the event were music icon Mary J. Blige and pop star Camila Cabello who sat beside current “it girl” Paris Jackson. Singer-songwriter Zayn Malik (sporting a very bushy beard) also came out to support the brand in a rare public appearance.
Off-White is a company launched by an American based in Milan, with fashion shows in Paris. Its “home-is-everywhere-and-nowhere” branding befits its founder, the late Virgil Abloh, who was famously one of the industry’s most well traveled personalities.
