Antiseptic Fashion
Off White’s Virgil Abloh drops 8 new face masks in light of COVID-19 chaos.
As Coronavirus reaches its de trop crescendo in the states, fashion is reacting in real-time. Off-White’s Virgil Abloh dropped the brand’s latest goings of Spring/Sumer 2020: eight cotton face masks offered in lime green, black, ocean blue, maroon, and white. Each are complete with iconic Off-White branding: 3D CROSSED OFF, HARRY THE BUNNY, and TAPE ARROW logos placed at the mask’s center. Aesthetically, the fashion masks offer a coy lightness in a time when statistic are harrowing, isolation impending, and the future uncertain. With a deft hand, Abloh embeds the silent promise of the fashion industry – to make one feel more confident and at ease in the clothes they wear – into an eight-piece line. Responding to our cultural climate is a major asset for brands that lack a broader context and consumer connection. As of late, Gucci CEO, Mario Bizzarri, joined a long list of his luxury peers when donating 100,000 euros to the Ausl IRCCS of Reggio Emilia in an effort to combat COVID-19. While Abloh’s approach was less transactional, his tongue-in-cheek accessory drop stays true to brand and could perhaps even resurface for October’s Coachella. The masks are priced at $95 and can be found at retailers such as Farfetch, but are on the brink of being sold out.