Paris Fashion Week 2022: Virgil Abloh’s final Off-White show was a bittersweet celebration of ‘Spaceship Earth’, brought to life by Gigi and Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Candice Swanepoel

Mar 3 , 2022

US model Bella Hadid models Virgil Abloh’s final Off-White collection during Paris Fashion Week, with Rihanna and A$AP Rocky in the audience. Photo: AFP

Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Idris Elba, Naomi Campbell and Pharrell Williams all turned out for the unveil of Virgil Abloh’s final womenwear collection for his trailblazing Off-White label

Tributes to the late design legend, who died of cancer late last year, remained muted as organisers asked for ‘solemnity’ from attendees amid war in Ukraine

It’s the elephant in the room at Paris Fashion Week. As bombs fall in Europe, what is the justification for exclusive fashion collections with perfume wafting in the air? There is none. However, Paris’s fashion body has tried to address this thorny point with a statement sent to AP of solidarity with Ukraine.

People hold up placards at an anti-war protest during Milan Fashion Week. Photo: Reuters

Ralph Toledano, president of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, said that as “the greater fashion family gathers for Paris Fashion Week, war has brutally hit Europe and plunged the Ukrainian people into fear and upheaval”.

Bayern Munich footballer Robert Lewandowski and wife Anna Lewandowska wear ribbons in support of Ukraine ahead of the Off-White Ready To Wear Fall/Winter 2022-2023 fashion collection. Photo: AP

He suggested that the show continue as creation itself is “based on principles of freedom, under any circumstances”, add that fashion “has always contributed to individual and collective emancipation and expression across our societies”.

The federation issued a caveat – that you “experience the shows of the coming days with solemnity, and in reflection of these dark hours”.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky arrive for the Off-White show at Paris Fashion Week. Photo: AP

On the other front, the death of respected US designer Virgil Abloh last year still casts a shadow over the Paris fashion industry. Since his passing in November there have been two fashion tributes to him at Louis Vuitton, where he was menswear designer – the first in Miami, and the second during the Paris men’s collections.

British model Naomi Campbell leaves after the Off-White collection show during Paris Fashion Week. Photo: AFP

On Monday evening, his personal brand Off-White showed its autumn-winter show, yet it seemed to be more of a celebration of his personality than anything else.