Off-White had an astronomical rise. It was the type of brand that comes around once in a generation!
In the era of street style and streetwear culture, Off-White dominated the last decade. Sadly, the brand mourned the loss of its founder and creative visionary, Virgil Abloh, in 2021. But now the company is making new deals and bringing out cool new styles, including for its line of trendy Off-White sunglasses.
Let’s go through the brand’s story and some of their top styles!
Why Is Off-White Such a Big Deal in the Fashion World?
Virgil Abloh began his journey in the fashion world by interning at Fendi in 2009 with none other than Kanye West. After cutting his teeth at Fendi, he started Off-White in 2013.
Abloh’s brand quickly started getting noticed. Within a decade, he successfully turned Off-White into one of the most buzzworthy brands out there. It was in Vogue magazine, on the runway at New York Fashion Week, and worn by the biggest celebrities, including Kanye. Major models, including Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner, often walked in Abloh’s shows or sat in the front row.
Abloh became the artistic director for Louis Vuitton’s menswear in 2018, cementing his rise to the top of the fashion world. In July 2021, LVMH announced it would be taking a 60% stake in Off-White. Abloh would retain the remaining 40%. Sadly, though, Abloh passed away soon after this in November 2021.
Off-White’s Signature Fashion Style
Gaining this kind of attention in such a short number of years isn’t common in the fashion industry. Abloh brought something different to the table; it was fresh, funky, and inspired by American street style.
It started with men’s pieces, focusing on cool casual fits and cubist, abstract prints. It eventually turned into women’s wear and accessories, including Off-White sunglasses.
The brand was consistently refreshing itself with new collaborations. Some of them included Sunglass Hut, Nike, and Converse for everything from sneakers to shades.
Post Virgil Abloh Off-White Direction
LVMH sold its shares in Off-White to the company Blue Star Alliance in 2024. The shake-up means a new direction and exciting new deals.
The New Off-White Sunglass Deal with Mondottica
One of the latest deals is that Off-White sunglasses and eyeglasses will now be made in Italy under the Mondottica manufacturing company.
Mondottica has been creating eyewear for brands for 20 years. They have licensing partnerships for famous brands, which means they collaborate to design and make their eyewear. Some of their brand deals include:
- Anna Sui
- Karen Millen
- Maje
- Sandro
- Palm Angels
The company has British origins but produces eyewear in Italy. The new range of Off-White sunglasses will be manufactured in 30 different frames, which include six colorways and acetate and metal designs.
The new collection of eyeglasses will include 24 models in seven colors, and they’ll also be available in metal and acetate.
This new deal with Mondottica means fresh styles, more innovations, and classic Italian manufacturing. Tony Pessok, who is the CEO of Mondottica, said, “Off-White is an innovative thought leader within the luxury sector. We are pleased to develop and showcase its range of genderless optical and sun styles for the next generation of luxury consumers.”
The CEO of Bluestar Alliance, Joseph Gabbay, who owns a majority stake in Off-White, also shared, “Eyewear has always been an extension of personal style for Off-White customers. This partnership strengthens our ability to develop eyewear collections that serve our global community.”
Top Off-White Sunglasses Styles
It remains to be seen if the new styles developed by Mondottica will shift the aesthetic of the current range of Off-White sunglasses and eyeglasses, but the brand’s signature style will likely stick around.
The shades follow the design principles of the clothes. They’re edgy, cool, youthful, and fashion-forward.
One of the main features of Off-White’s sunglasses in the current collections is the thick, chunky acetate frames. They’re available in a variety of (mostly) classic colors, including black, gray, and tortoiseshell. The tinted lenses complement the frames, featuring colors such as pink, green, and gray.
The angular, pointed, and square shapes are among the elements that make Off-White sunglasses stand out compared to other designer shades. Although they still look expensive, there is less focus on the logo and branded features and more emphasis on the overall edgy aesthetic.
The sunglasses pictured below are named after the city of Cincinnati, and they’re a modern take on the classic cat-eye shape. They take it to the next level with the matte white frames and tinted lenses.
These rectangular Off-White sunglasses are chunky and fun. They give off a futuristic vibe, making them perfect for wearing with streetwear or other trendy outfits.
The aptly named Vancouver sunglasses create a city-slicker energy, perfect for fashion-lovers who want to be noticed. The oversized frame and yellow-tinted lenses are currently on-trend.
What’s Next for Off-White
When the visionary director Virgil Abloh was at Off-White, he created trends and didn’t follow them. While the brand has been going through new phases and a new designer following Abloh’s passing, it will be interesting to see if the new Off-White sunglasses continue to stand out and set trends.
The new eyewear collection will feature metal frames, which the company currently doesn’t offer. So, will they create their own aviator sunglasses or do something more original?
It’s an exciting brand that’s got unlimited potential to become one of the big players in international fashion.
TL;DR
Off-White sunglasses already have a cult following, so it remains to be seen what the new collection with Mondottica will lead to.
- The new collection of Off-White sunglasses and eyeglasses will launch in 2026.
- They’ll be manufactured in Italy, and the collection will include new shapes, colors, and metal frames.
- Off-White has been going through a transitional phase since it was a hugely successful brand that blew up in the course of a decade. However, the founder and creative director, Virgil Abloh, passed away a few years back.
- While Off-White is still popular, it’ll be intriguing to see what new styles of eyewear they come out with next.
