Luxury streetwear label Off-White is set to make one of the biggest style statements in Abu Dhabi this year, and it’s happening at the upcoming Craft & Code exhibition. Unveiling a world-first capsule and limited one-off pieces curated with IB Kamara, Creative Director of the brand, it marks a one-of-a-kind fashion reveal.
Presented by Abu Dhabi Retail and taking place at ERTH, Abu Dhabi, from January 30 to February 1, Craft & Code is a three-day exhibition bringing designers, artists, and technologists into the same space, built around the relationship between analogue technique and digital intervention.
It opens with an invitation-only gala, before moving into public programming with live demos, workshops, and open tours, alongside commissioned installations and interventions.
Unveiling of Off-White’s capsule is one of the headline moments, with the limited one-off pieces nodding to the event’s emphasis on craft, rarity, and the idea of fashion intertwining with art and design.
Highlighting the importance of promoting regional creativity when planning the release, Kamara said: “The focus on local and regional craft, design, and innovation has made Craft & Code a truly unique event.”
British Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori is also part of the lineup, while Australian hyperrealist artist CJ Hendry is set to bring her Flower Market to the Middle East. The installation is described as a fluorescence of 200,000 stems, including blooms that are native to the UAE, reimagined as collectable art moments.
For fragrance fanatics, Omani luxury house Amouage is set to premiere a never-before-released scent in numbered collector formats. Meanwhile, Gafla Jewellery will celebrate the region’s pearl diving history with unique creations.
The event’s ambition is about positioning regional creativity in a global context. Marne Schwartz, Managing Director of ITP Media Group, describes the aim as, “Our ambition is simple, to celebrate, archive and export Arab creativity to a global audience. Abu Dhabi embodies that ambition, modern and progressive, yet proud of its roots.”
Craft & Code runs from January 30 to February 1 at ERTH, Abu Dhabi. Public days are listed as Saturday, January 31, and Sunday, February 1, following the opening gala.