Off-White Origins: The Interesting History of Off-White

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There’s a reason why the United States apparel market is worth approximately $1.9 trillion. These days the average clothes aren’t just functional, they’re fashion statements. And, that reputation is thanks in large part to brands like Off-White.

This popular clothing brand, which is operated by Virgil Abloh, has completely blurred the line between high fashion and street fashion since the brief time it’s been around. But how did it manage to do this?

And how did this brand history legacy start? If you want to learn the answer to this question, and more, then you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll provide you with everything you need to know about Off-White. Let’s get started!

Off-White Origins: The Birth of Virgil Abloh

Before you can learn about the brand history of Off-White the first person you need to know about is Virgil Abloh. Virgil is the mastermind and the founder behind Off-White.

He was born in 1980 in the town of Rockford, Illinois. At a young age, Virgil’s mother taught him sewing because she was a seamstress. He would take this childhood skill with him to Illinois Institute for Technology.

First, for a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, then a master’s degree in architecture. Studying these two subjects might not have exposed him to fashion. But, it did show Virgil the principles that are fundamental to all 20th-century design.

Abloh’s intro into the fashion world came when he took a job at a screen printing store called Custom King. Influential designers like Don C eventually took notice of him and commissioned some of his work.

This, in turn, led him to meet Kanye West. West took such an interest in Virgil Abloh that he appointed him his creative assistant, then creative director. After two years Virgil Abloh eventually started his label and boutique.

This business, which was called Pyrex Vision, was launched to elevate ordinary clothing articles into luxury clothing. This disruptive strategy was a success. However, eventually, Virgil started a Milan-based label to continue his conceptual adventure. That’s where Off-White comes into the picture.

Brand History: What Does Off-White Offer and What’s Its Mission Statement?

For starters, let’s go over what Off-White offers. The brand is perhaps best known for its widely popular Nike sneakers. Specifically, Virgil deconstructed ten different Nike sneakers by adding and taking away elements using things like zip ties, sharpies, and exacto knives.

The result is a shoe that breaks down the barrier between performance and style. However, it’s far from the only thing that Off-White offers. They also provide a selection of shirts, pants, dresses, glasses, and kids’ clothing.

In terms of their mission statement, Off-White still strives to explore the spaces between the avant-garde and more comfortable streetwear.

This dichotomy is reflected in the name itself. Off-White stands for the grey zone that lies between white and black. In that area lies the perfect marriage of form and function.

And, if their early success is any indication, then Off-White is just getting started. Perhaps that’s why celebrities like A$AP Rocky, Rihanna, Kendal Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Justin Bieber all swear by the brand.

Popular Collaborations Between the Brand

Part of what makes Off-White amazing is the fact that they don’t create in a bubble. They have multiple collaborations with both huge corporations, like Nike, and relatively unknown fashion designers. In this section, we’ll briefly go over some of these early collaborations.

Nike x Off-White Sneakers

We’ve already mentioned the collaboration that happened between Virgil and Nike back in 2017. Well, that deal proved so popular that the company decided to sell them for quite a long time.

Specifically, there are lots of different versions of the Nike Dunk, Air Jordans, and some under-the-radar selections. These shoes come with colored laces that have writing on them.

Make sure to check out this retailer if you want the latest Off White Nike shoes. They also come with the signature quotation marks that the brand is starting to become known for.

OFFKAT Collaboration

Many people in New York City are familiar with the underground graffiti artist known as KATSU. The contemporary street artist is known for subversive works, like tagging a billboard of Kendal Jenner with a drone.

Well, Off-White has taken notice of this artist’s talents. They’ve made that clear with the introduction of the OFFKAT collaboration.

This collection aims to bring KATSU’s unique graffiti style and translate it into shirts and jackets. The result is bold color pairings and the artist’s signature skeleton that is a frequent motif.

Off-White Theophilus London Collaboration

Anyone familiar with hip-hop music is likely acquainted with the genre-defying musician Theophilus London. Well, the luxury label Off-White is also a fan of American artists’ music.

To show, they celebrated his 2020 album Bebey with a superb collection of clothing. The result is a series of shirts, pants, sweatshirts, and hats that encapsulate London’s unique style.

On top of that, it also features the artwork that can be found on the Bebey album. As such, it’s the perfect piece of clothing for fans of Off-White and Theophilus London.

Want More Content? Keep Reading

We hope this article helped teach you more about the brand history of Off-White. As you can see, the company is just getting started and it’s already caused a huge upheaval in the fashion industry.

As such, we can’t wait to see what the future holds for this industry giant. If the present is any indication, then we can expect more cool collaborations and signature collections to be released.

But, we’ll keep our eye out for the next industry-shaking release. Did you enjoy this article? If the answer is yes, then you’re in the right place. Keep exploring to find more content that you’re sure to love.

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