Off-White™ Shuts Down Iconic NYC Store, Marking the End of an Era
The fashion world was rocked when Off-White™ announced the closure of its flagship New York City store, the EM PTY GALLERY. The versatile space, opened by brand founder Virgil Abloh in 2017, was more than just a retail destination. It was a revolving gallery, showcasing changing exhibitions with Off-White™ products as the buyable decor. This was Abloh’s response to the mundane retail environment at the time and marked the brand’s first store in the U.S. But now, its closing signifies the end of an era.
Following Abloh’s passing, stylist and former editor-in-chief of Dazed, Ib Kamara, was appointed as the art and image director for Off-White™. While Kamara’s work has been well-received, the brand has struggled to find its footing without Abloh. In the last four years, Off-White™ has closed all six of its stores in China, but still maintains retail locations across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Last September, LVMH sold Off-White LLC, the parent company of Off-White™, to brand management company Bluestar Alliance. While the financial details were not disclosed, this sale meant that the Abloh-founded label would join Bluestar Alliance’s growing brand portfolio, which includes Hurley, Scotch & Soda, Bebe, English Laundry, and Brookstone. LVMH stated that they believed Bluestar Alliance was the perfect partner to carry on the legacy of the Abloh-founded brand.
