In the sense of community, I find, lies the strength and the grace, the beauty and the joy of being human. I envision Off-White™ as a society of individuals of all ages, races and walks of life, striving to express their true selves while bonding and helping one another, sharing values and visions.
In the odds of contemporary life, this stance might come across as confrontational, probably; defiant, even. And yet, I see it essentially a claim of what being in the world with other humans means. It is not always easy to live life according to these principles. Strength and perseverance are mandatory, and this is why I entitled this collection State Of Resistance, decidingto present in a space which is both a place of reunion and a landmark of progressive thinking. In my creative process, life experiences always resurface, triggering an aesthetic sensibility in which different elements come together harmoniously. Growing up, I was inspired by the Ghanian symbols like stars and eagles, and the vivid colors of West African art. Later in London, I was influenced by British uniforms, with its strictness and discipline. Uniforms became part of my visual landscape: we had to wear one to school, and different work environments had different garbs. For this collection, I had uniforms - from sports to work- in my mind, and explored the idea with a punk attitude that defies limits, breaking through and rising above.
Uniforms are a particular language; they seem to homogenize, while actually bringing attention onthe unfiltered individuality of each and everyone. They are efficient, too. I worked on these tropes, highlighting the shoulders as a signifier of both resistance and strength. The democracy and humbleness that is integral to the idea of community drove the focus on materials such as jersey and denim, which become a canvas to experiment with washes, treatment, shapes. Mens and womenswear share the same fierceness, the neutral palette accented with aquas, purples and reds, the same focus on shapes like the varsity and the bomber, and even the new Sand Bag, with the idea of something common turned upside down In Women’s, architectural cuts sculpt the body, contouring shoulders and bust in ways that recall sportswear. Jersey and flou are mixed. The tracksuit jacket is engineered in a peplum construction, while zip-up tailoring is strict and seductive.
Men’s silhouettes are purposeful and bold, with plays of zippers, hybrids of garments, tactile textures such as tweed and plastic as a form of protection. Shredded denim, padded shoulders, long jackets with hoodies inside, sports shorts and anatomic pants make for a rich mix of cultures and styles. Oneness is the message: individualities that come together resisting the dehumanization of imposed homogeneity
IB KAMARA
