Off-White’s S/S 23 Campaign Celebrates New Beginnings
Ibrahim Kamara made headlines last April when he was announced as Off-White’s art and image director, making the brand's S/S 23 show one of the Paris Fashion Week's most anticipated. Dubbed ‘Celebration’, as the late Virgil Abloh’s successor, Kamara presented a collection that explored the designer’s established codes and motifs while having his sights set firmly on the future. Well, the celebration continues with Kamara's dynamic S/S 23 campaign.
Set against an ultramarine blue backdrop (a shade Kamara hopes will become synonymous with the brand), Kamara’s first Off-White collection was rife with all the Virgilisms we've come to expect. Still, it's his collaborative inclinations that are most inline with Abloh's design ethos. To bring his S/S 23 collection to life he enlisted the help of photographer Thibaut Grevet, set designer Abby Njoya and movement director Nicolas Huchard. With the body and movement a defining factor of the collection, stark visuals highlight playful elements like the graphic ropelet overlays and stitch detailing that contours the muscles on jackets and bodycon dresses.
While whimsicality defines the garments, its the accessories which stay true to Abloh's architectural inspirations (the designer did have a master's degree in architecture from Illinois Institute of Technology, after all). The campaign showcases a set of futuristic sculptural shades named the Katoka and Volcanite, (rendered in reflective chrome and matte black respectively), along with the brand's signature Spring Heel defined by it's semi-circular heel. With progress in mind, Kamara reimagines the distinct design in three new styles; mule sandals, booties, and high boots.
The superstar stylist originally from Sierra Leone had already made waves as editor-at-large for i-D before being named editor-in-chief of Dazed in 2021. With his work featured in every major publication from Vogue Italia to W, Kamara's CV is nothing to scoff at and was already solidifying his status as one of the industries defining talents of today. Having just presented his sophomore collection for Off-White earlier this month at Paris Fashion Week, we can't wait to see how Kamara continues to push Abloh's legacy forward.
