Off-White Autumn/Winter 2017 - Now Online

Eyes Tee | Diagonals Spray Short | Intarsia Arrow Sock | Diagonals Sneaker

Since its 2014 inception, OFF-WHITE has designed to straddle the rift between streetwear and high-fashion. Establishing itself as a driving force in the blurring between these two product categories, Virgil Abloh's label is now one of the most widely distributed new-gen luxury brands with a dedicated international following and key retail accounts in every corner of the globe.

Perhaps central to the label's success, OFF-WHITE encapsulate the essence of aspiration in every sense of the word. Single-mindedly committed to earning the acceptance of the fashion elite in a climate which traditionally separated streetwear from luxury fashion, Virgil Abloh has successfully occupied a new place in the market.

OFF-WHITE uses high and low culture references in equal measure to forge a new kind of luxury which speaks to the mentality of youth culture in a format palatable to the higher echelons of fashion, creating a real-time commentary on contemporary culture.

This determinedness has generated a loyal following, validated with respect from the streets - an essential component in Abloh's creative raison d'être.

The parallel between OFF-WHITE transcending its stigma as 'just' streetwear and the struggle of growing up on the streets hoping to make a better life isn't lost on the brand's die-hard customer base, and has established OFF-WHITE as a 21st-century symbol of aspiration. It's this understanding - that while the faces, the music, and the clothes may change over time, the struggle and stories of those coming up remain the same - that has underpinned Abloh's cross-referential interpretation of youth culture which he translates through his collections.

Eyes Tee | Diagonals Button Down Jacket

For Autumn/Winter 2017 OFF-WHITE explored the concept of youth as something to be reinterpreted throughout life, regardless of age. Abloh highlighted respect for his elders  - and de facto respect for his design predecessors - by combining looser 'art-dad' silhouettes with the brand's signature branding and lettering. These seasonal staples were complemented with surrealist elements and imagery: details which may initially present as random, but which intentionally belie deeper significance to Abloh's life experiences which inform much of his design output.

Archive Field Jacket | Diagonal Arrows Sweat Pant

The collection dubbed 'Seeing Things' further investigates Abloh's interpretation of streetwear as an ever-moving target which, pinned down at any given moment, provides a cultural snapshot of that specific moment in time. Get the full perspective on OFF-WHITE's AW17 offering in the official show video below, presented at Maison de l'UNESCO during the Paris Autumn/Winter collections.