In an interesting turn of events, LVMH has decided to sell Off-White LLC, the parent company of the Off-White™ brand, to Bluestar Alliance. The announcement came fittingly on what would have been the birthday of Virgil Abloh, the creative force behind Off-White™. While financial aspects of the deal haven’t been disclosed, Off-White™ joins the diverse portfolio of Bluestar Alliance, which already includes brands like Hurley, Scotch & Soda, Bebe, English Laundry, and Brookstone.
Joey Gabbay, CEO of Bluestar Alliance, expressed his admiration for Abloh’s innovative spirit. “Virgil was a creative pioneer who had a profound impact on the global fashion industry and creative community,” he said. “Acquiring Off-White™ represents a unique opportunity for Bluestar Alliance to honor and build upon the enduring legacy of Virgil Abloh. His visionary approach to fashion resonates deeply with our core values. Abloh’s ability to fuse street culture with high fashion has laid a powerful foundation that aligns with our vision of fostering innovation while embracing diversity.”
LVMH echoed these sentiments, highlighting Bluestar Alliance as the ideal partner to uphold Abloh’s legacy. In their statement, LVMH mentioned that Bluestar Alliance would respect the creative integrity of Off-White™ and continue to nurture the innovativeness and values that Abloh instilled. “The acquisition of Off-White™, and the opportunity to provide strategic investment and build upon our global network of resources will allow for the continuation of the cultural and creative momentum that Virgil ignited, one that Bluestar Alliance is committed to carrying forward.”
Off-White™ was founded by Virgil Abloh in 2012 as a follow-up to his PYREX VISION label. The first full womenswear collection was showcased at Paris Fashion Week in January 2014, and by 2015, the brand had been nominated for the prestigious LVMH Prize. The same year, it was taken under the wing of New Guards Group, a collective owned by Marcelo Burlon, Claudio Antonioli, and Davide De Giglio. In 2019, New Guards Group was acquired by Farfetch for $675M USD.
Interestingly, LVMH’s involvement with Off-White™ was through Off-White LLC, the entity through which Abloh managed his varied projects, from DJ sets to collaborative efforts with Nike. Vogue described this approach in 2021 as akin to that of Karl Lagerfeld, noting how Abloh’s myriad roles made for a fluid integration of his work across different domains, including his executive responsibilities at Louis Vuitton.
Currently, under the guidance of Ib Kamara, a notable editor and stylist, Off-White™ is navigating its future. Recently, the brand’s show at New York Fashion Week garnered significant attention, although it followed some significant changes at New Guards Group, including the appointment of a new CEO.
For those tracking the evolution of Off-White™, the sale marks a notable chapter in its journey, reflecting the dynamic nature of the fashion industry and the ongoing legacy of Virgil Abloh.
