Ib Kamara replaced at Off-White?

Disclaimer: This blog is based on viewing these fashion shows virtually. Hopefully, sooner rather than later, these blogs will be based on in-person experiences.

2025, the year of revolving creative directors for the big name fashion houses. Some will thrive, while others make the wrong type of noise, hoping for another chance. Louise Trotter weaving the leather at Bottega Veneta, Demna doing Demna at Gucci, J.W. Anderson leaving Loewe and replacing Kim Jones at Dior, Matthieu Blazy taking on one of the biggest moments at Chanel. A total of 15 runway debuts for us to witness. Should it have been 16?

In the unexpected passing of revolutionary Virgil Abloh, a massive role had to be filled, not only at Louis Vuitton but Off-White. In April 2022, Ibrahim (Ib) Kamara was announced as the ‘Art and Image Director’. After two years Kamara was officially named ‘Creative Director’ of Off White.

Ib's transition.

He originally studied to be a doctor because of family pressures as well as his success and smarts in his science studies. After finding the medicine path boring he decided to pursue the world of art, later studying at Central Saint Martins. At Central Saint Martins Kamara says that every year you change and by the end completely transformed. He looked at the world differently and in a more loving way.

As editor-in-chief of Dazed Magazine (2021-2025), Kamara was very connected to the fashion world and developed a fleshed out understanding of the times he was currently in. Not only has Kamara worked with brands but he has also worked with celebrities such as Beyonce, Solange, Madonna and many more. First beginning as DMs on instagram with Virgil, Kamara first joined the Off-White team as a stylist for the brand. As a trusted advisor, he assisted Virgil in bringing the seasonal collections to life.

The Pulse of Off-White.

New York Fashion Week 2025, Off-White showcased their Spring/Summer 2026 collection. Now let's start off by saying the sets for Off-White ALWAYS hit! I don’t think we can confidently say that there's been one runway set design that wasn’t speaking to the brand and collection. Each set design takes you to another dimension almost, the views, objects and colors create a great combination.This is also virtual consumption, so it's hard to imagine the amazing aspects of the set design in person.

Is Off-White ‘hitting’ like it used to? From the celebrity attendees to the clothes themself, the excitement of the brand seems to be lacking. When Kamara first started, he had a grasp on what the brand was and where it was meant to go for the near future. Now it almost seems as if he's gotten beyond the point of the set plans. When looking at Off-White it seems almost ‘unrecognizable’, and not necessarily in the good way. The brand looks as if it's a blend of the ‘old’ Off-White, Americana boots with pointy heels, mismatched materials and colors that don’t seem compatible. The collection doesn’t look rooted in anything, almost as if it has no anchor, when the anchor should be the brand itself.

The Question.

Kamara had the goal to show what he could do without having to appease the past. Let it be known this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, however it seemed as though the collection strayed away from the originality of the brand.

It may be time to have the difficult conversation of who is up next to take the reins of the brand. Kamara has done great up until now and that's okay, but it's best to leave on a high note. As for where he will land a new creative director job and who will be replacing him, that's a conversation to be had. Will it be a celebrity without any fashion knowledge, a well known creative director, or will the brand take a chance on a fresh fashion name? Let us know where Kamara should go and who should replace him at Off-White.