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Ahead of Off-White's Spring/Summer 2025 New York Fashion Week show, Rosalía opened up about a touching moment between her and the brand's former creative director, Virgil Abloh.
In 2020, the “TKN” hitmaker sat next to Abloh and chatted about a blue velvet dress he made for Bella Hadid. They were front row at Nike’s New York Fashion Week show in February, with Drake to Rosalía’s left. By the time the lights went down, signaling the start of the presentation, the two were already pretty well acquainted.
“Virgil was a sweetheart,” Rosalía recalled in her September 2024 article High snobbery cover story, reflecting on their previous encounter. “I remember really liking a blue velvet dress that Bella Hadid previously wore.
“YO [was talking to] “He custom made it for me so I could wear it in my ‘CANDY’ video,” she continued. “He was that kind of guy, you know? The guy who does things for other people just because.”
Abloh, who passed away on November 28, 2021, from cardiac angiosarcoma, was known for his generosity, prioritizing his relationships and honoring loved ones with custom designs. The former Louis Vuitton menswear designer maintained close relationships with Rihanna, Hailey Bieber, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, Naomi Campbell and Pharrell Williams.
This year, Off-White, the Abloh legacy, will present its new spring/summer collection for the first time during New York Fashion Week. While the brand is based in Milan, it typically presents its designs in Paris each season. But now, with Ib Kamara at the helm, New York will be the official home of Off-White on September 8.
Talking with Fashion Before the big debut, Kamara, who was named creative director after working as a stylist for Off-White, admitted that showing at New York Fashion Week had been the plan for some time. However, after Abloh's sudden passing, the timing just wasn't right.
“Bringing Off-White to New York has been an idea that’s been around for a long time,” Kamara told the outlet in an article published on July 22, adding that Abloh intended to bring the brand to the Big Apple in early 2022. “Now feels like the right time to show up.
“It’s natural to grow and show where the community surrounding the brand is,” he added. “I think it will be amazing and it will feel really good for Off-White to show their collection for the first time in the city.”
For Abloh’s latest Off-White collection, the house paid tribute to its late designer with a special presentation in Paris for Fall 2022 ready-to-wear. Between a Carrie Bradshaw-inspired bag and a never-before-seen dress made for Kylie Jenner, subtle nods to his close confidants were woven in as Pharrell Williams’ voice played over the loudspeaker.
