Can digital fashion be fashionable?
As someone who went into fashion because I wanted to work in a space that was inherently physical. Something I’m sure my fellow fashion designers can attest to, the feeling of gliding your hand across a roll of luxurious fabric with an intricate pattern is hard to beat.
But still, digital fashion is interesting.
As the traditional model of launching and running a fashion brand can be prohibitively expensive, this new avenue could offer a lower barrier to entry for those who love fashion but are unable to afford production and distribution in an outdated and bloated industry.
Side bar: In my research, I came across the discussion of digital vs. virtual fashion think it is important to differentiate the two. Virtual refers to simulating the essence of reality and digital refers to representing values as discrete numbers.
What that means for fashion is, virtual fashion is meant to discuss the styling, fit, silhouette, and intended realism of garments; and digital is meant to discuss the technology, technical development, and drape of that same garment.
So when can digital fashion be worn?
If you’ve done some preliminary pursuing through the racks (re: pages) of digital fashion studios like DressX, Replicant, Republique, XR Couture, The Fabricant, or watched the beautifully made dresses at the Pink Label 3D Fashion Show then you know that the fashion in the metaverse is captivating and can elicit similar longing that the garments in the physical world have been known to create.
As not an influencer myself, I just don’t see the appeal of purchasing a digital garment for me to just post on Instagram. Documenting my OOTD is just not my vibe. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t ever see myself purchasing digital fashion.
If within our lifetime the digital world becomes so entrenched in our day to day lives that we are working and spending copious amounts of time interacting with others in our avatars then I will definitely be one of the first ones buying extravagant pieces to wear to my daily office meetings, lunches with friends, or whatever adventures my day might bring.
Admittedly we are farther away from that version of digital fashion being feasible so the value must instead come from the collection and curation of exclusive and valuable pieces.
I’d see this interaction being in a similar space to the luxury goods resale market where people can buy and sell limited edition items to other fashion enthusiasts.
For the present-day consumer, I think the value will come from having extremely limited runs of garments where people can collect these wardrobe pieces and use them as currency to showcase their fashion clout to the community.
Admittedly this is not the most useful application of digital fashion but I think for where we are right now, being able to experience digital fashion as collector’s items allows us to maximize what this technology has to offer.
The physics-defying construction and limitless opulence don’t have to be constrained by the attempt to wrap a 3D garment around a 2D figure while maintaining the same texture, fit and fabric realism that designers so painstakingly crafted. What this kind of application does, in essence, loses all the depth, detail, and beauty that has been “sewn” into this digital couture.
With digital fashion being in its infancy, the first digital collection being created in 2018 by Carlings, one might be tempted to dismiss the industry as valueless, but I argue that is incorrect.
Technology always needs an adoption period where things get faster, more refined, and just overall better and this transition period is now happening with digital fashion.
While I don’t see myself purchasing a digital garment and sending in my photo, I do see my collecting and curating garments in sort of a digital wardrobe.
After all, the fashion industry, as it is today is infamous for creating garments that don’t fit our bodies, so on that logic digital fashion blends in and is poised to be something really interesting in the years to come.
