SATURDAY 12:29 PM SEPTEMBER 7, 2024 DUMBO
On Saturday morning, at the community basketball courts of Brooklyn Bridge Park, Ib Kamara brought his revamped vision for late friend and collaborator Virgil Abloh’s label Off-White to New York City for the first time. After showing at Paris Fashion Week last season, the designer couldn’t have asked for a better late-summer New York day, with guests assembled by the thousands as the sun reflected off ripples of water in the East River. In the crowd, our new fashion correspondent spotted rapper and longtime Off-White enthusiast Flava Flav sporting his signature giant clock necklace. As it turned out, he had all the time in the world for Mr. Kamara. “The show was too quick, man,” Flav said. “It went too fast.”
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LYAS: Hey, Flav. What’s up?
FLAVA FLAV: What’s up, G? How you doing, man?
LYAS: I’m good, I’m good. We’ve just witnessed an Off-White Show in New York.
FLAV: Yo, yo, the show was too quick, man. It went too fast. We need more, we need more.
LYAS: That’s true. How many looks were there? Maybe 40?
FLAV: I’m not sure, but I know it was pretty exciting. It was pretty good.
LYAS: Was it your first time seeing a French show in New York?
FLAV: Yes, definitely. My first time ever and it was really great.
LYAS: You’re a stylish man. What could you see yourself wearing from this collection?
FLAV: I’ve seen a few things that I wouldn’t mind wearing. You know what I’m saying? The whole nine. But I ain’t going to lie, I like what I’m wearing. This is all Off-White. This is my style. Everybody else got their style, but I have mine.
LYAS: Is that clock Off-White too?
FLAV: No, this just a regular clock. It’s just mine.
LYAS: It’s your clock. Have you ever been to Paris Fashion Week?
FLAV: No, I never have. Man, I love Paris Fashion Week. I was just over there at the Olympics.
LYAS: Oh, how was it?
FLAV: Oh, it was great. I sponsored the women’s water polo team.
LYAS: How many medals did they win?
FLAV: They won three back to back.
LYAS: Three? Damn!
FLAV: You know what I’m saying?
LYAS: That’s what I’m saying.
FLAV: Matter of a fact… Ashleigh! Come here. I happen to have the goalie with me. This is the goalie of the United States Olympic women’s US water polo team.
ASHLEIGH JOHNSON: Hi.
LYAS: Ashleigh, how was winning a gold medal?
JOHNSON: I’ve won two gold medals and it was amazing this time.
LYAS: That’s insane.
JOHNSON: It’s super exciting. In Paris, we didn’t actually reach our goal, unfortunately, but it was an amazing city. It was amazing to be there. I was cheering for my USA teammates and just so happy to be there.
LYAS: And how was Flav involved?
JOHNSON: Flav was our main supporter. He’s been lifting us up. He continues to lift us up, and he’s just behind us. We know he’s there, he’s solid, and it’s just been incredible to see what he’s done for our sport.
LYAS: That’s beautiful, guys. Thank you, Flav.
FLAV: Thank you.
