OFF-WHITE LAUNCHES ‘I SUPPORT YOUNG BLACK BUSINESSES’ INITIATIVE

Off-White is continuing its ongoing commitment to the Black community with the launch of the “I Support Young Black Businesses” project, a quarterly fundraising program in support of organizations chosen by designer Virgil Abloh and his team to support the Black community. Initially designed in 2019 and debuted in 2020, Off-White will release items for sale with 100 percent of proceeds going to the organization selected each quarter.

The brand is launching the first round of quarterly fundraising with the sale of Off-White’s fall/winter 2020 “I Support Young Black Businesses” t-shirt and hoodies, which first appeared at the brand’s runway show in January 2020, worn by tap dancer Cartier Williams who gave an opening performance.

The apparel is now available with proceeds initially going to Chicago CRED, which stands for “Create Real Economic Destiny”— an organization Abloh has partnered with since 2017 in his home city and is focused on reducing gun violence.

This announcement is part of Abloh’s broad-based advocacy for and support of Black talent. Most recently, as announced in July, he raised $1 million to support the next generation of Black fashion leaders through the Virgil Abloh “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund, which will be managed in partnership with the Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF).

In parallel with this, Off-White has established an ongoing paid internship program in Milan for young Black people who want to build a career in the fashion industry. The first internship will start in September 2020 in Milan.