Off-White™ Shuts Down Soho Store After 8 Years

Off-White™ has officially shut down its flagship New York City retail outpost, the EM PTY GALLERY.

In 2017, Virgil Abloh, the founder of Off-White™, opened a multifunctional space in New York City’s Soho district. This venue served not only as a shopping destination but also as a rotating art gallery displaying various exhibitions. The products from Off-White™ functioned as the artistic decor that filled this space. This innovative concept was Abloh’s reaction to the ordinary retail scene at the time, and it marked the brand’s first U.S. store. Now, with its closing, we are witnessing the end of an era in fashion.

After Virgil Abloh’s passing, I, as a fan, was thrilled to learn that Ib Kamara, a stylist who previously held the position of editor-in-chief at Dazed, took over as the art and image director for Off-White™. Kamara’s work has been applauded by many, but Off-White™ has been searching for stability since Abloh’s departure. Over the past four years, Off-White™ has shut down all six of its stores in China, yet it continues to maintain retail locations throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Last September, LVMH transferred ownership of Off-White LLC (the company behind the Off-White™ brand) to brand management firm Bluestar Alliance. The specific financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. However, this sale allowed the Abloh-created label to be part of Bluestar Alliance’s growing collection of brands, which currently encompasses Hurley, Scotch & Soda, Bebe, English Laundry, and Brookstone. LVMH expressed confidence that Bluestar Alliance would be an ideal partner to continue the legacy of the Off-White™ brand founded by Abloh.

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2025-04-02 19:26