NYFW: Off-White™’s SS25 Collection Bridges African Futurism and American Utopias

Ib Kamara, creative director of Off-White™, unveiled the Spring-Summer 2025 collection titled «DUTY FREE,» blending African heritage with American influences. Kamara reflected on the power of emotion, noting it can serve as a signature as compelling as a logo.

This latest collection, rooted in his own experiences, emphasizes that clothing transcends utility, becoming a medium for storytelling and expression. The Ghanaian journey of Virgil Abloh, Off-White’s late founder, deeply inspired Kamara’s creative process, paralleling his own African upbringing in Sierra Leone and London.

«DUTY FREE» symbolizes the cultural intersection between Africa and America, represented through a dynamic fusion of sportswear and modern African futurism. The collection features both men’s and women’s wear, unified by a shared African-inspired palette of neutral tones, punctuated by bold accents of red. Kamara’s designs reflect a balance between functionality and emotional depth, as seen in the adaptable men’s silhouettes and the body-conscious, architectural cuts of the women’s pieces.

Collaborating with contemporary Ghanaian artist Nana Danso, Kamara incorporated Off-White’s iconic arrow motif alongside new symbols representing the collection’s themes. These visual elements, combined with textures like mesh, shredded denim, and intricate embroidery, evoke the multicultural, energetic essence of New York—a place where dreams and reality converge, with a touch of magic.