Ib Kamara Named Art and Image Director at OFF-WHITE

When Virgil Abloh died following a private battle with cancer in December 2021, the world lost an extraordinary creator whose talents knew no bounds, from fashion to product and furniture design. Abloh left behind his brand OFF-WHITE, founded in 2012, and his role as men's artistic director for Louis Vuitton menswear.

Owned by the New Guards Group and LVMH (the parent conglomerate of Louis Vuitton), OFF-WHITE's CEOs Davide De Giglio and Andrea Grilli told the Business of Fashion earlier this year that they had plans to make OFF-WHITE into an 'eternal' brand. Abloh would send Whatsapp messages and texts to communicate with his team and collaborators as he moved between Milan and Paris, and this stream of consciousness has left behind a series of breadcrumb trails for the brand to go down next. Steering the mast as part of a new collective of creatives at OFF-WHITE, will be Ib Kamara, who has been appointed Art and Image Director.

'Ibrahim’s relationship with Virgil and OFF-WHITE born and nurtured through DM messages on Instagram, blossomed both personally and professionally in the last three years creating a strong bond based on mutual respect and shared values. In the new role, he will further develop his influence and insight on the brand’s collections, image and content,' Grilli said it a statement posted to the OFF-WHITE Instagram. 'With his talent and vision we look forward to taking on the next chapter of OFF-WHITE™ together, always remembering the groundbreaking creativity and values that Virgil had at heart and that are the core of our brand.'

Working closely with Abloh styling shows and fashion films for both Louis Vuitton and OFF-WHITE, including tribute A/W 22 shows earlier this year, Kamara departs from Dazed, where he has been editor-in-chief since January 2022. He previously held the post of editor-at-large at Dazed, where he joined from i-D.

Born in Sierra Leone, Kamara moved to London aged 11. Studying at Central Saint Martins, it was his photographic project 2026 with Kristin-Lee Moolman, included in Somerset House's 2016 exhibition Utopian Voices Here and Now, which courted attention from the industry. The project explored the future of black masculinity in a shoot with street cast models, and would set the tone for his work to come.

'Virgil will forever be with us. With me. He changed the world and left an indelible mark on anyone who encountered him and beyond. Generous with his time, mind and creativity – he saw everyone and created with all humans in mind. I am honoured to further link my ties to Off-White as their art and image director and be a part of the team that will tell the rest of the story Virgil started writing for us all,' Kamara said in a statement posted to his personal Instagram.