Diving Into Digital: Our Favorite Fashion NFT and Web3 Projects of January 2023
From Marco Simonetti’s AI-generated Jacquemus x Nike concepts, to Diesel’s upcoming HAPE collaboration.
The new year means new NFT and Web3 projects and 2023 has started strong. As brands continue to explore what the fashion world of tomorrow looks like, new possibilities for creativity, identity and innovation arise. Among the intricate cultural zeitgeist of Web3, artificial intelligence has taken the creative industries by storm. Meanwhile, NFT initiatives rely on physical and digital benefits to stand out among market saturation.
This month, we saw Marco Simonetti unveil an AI-generated Jacquemus x Nike capsule collection and pop-up concept that broke the internet. Similarly, Valentino exclusively used AI for its latest “Essentials” line campaign. Elsewhere, Prada’s eighth time-capsule NFT drop offered the chance to attend the Menswear Fall/Winter 2023 show in Milan.
Continue scrolling to see our favorite cyber collections and Web3 initiatives this January.
Marco Simonetti unveiled an AI-generated Jacquemus x Nike capsule collection and pop-up concept.
Marco Simonetti
Marco Simonetti
Marco Simonetti of RAL7000STUDIO caused quite a stir on social media late last year with his intriguing, AI-generated Jacquemus x Nike “Courchevel” concept collection. Created to fit into the natural landscape of the Courchevel slopes and its “unpretentious and relaxed ambiance,” the series included a range of luxury ski garments, accessories and footwear. Highlights included ski masks, salopettes, snowboard boots, limited edition watches, jewelry, puffer duffels, helmets, and knitted sunglasses.
Diesel revealed an official, upcoming collaboration with NFT collective Hape.
Diesel X Hape
Following the launch of its own Web3 division “Brave Virtual Xperience (BVX),” and the release of the NFT platform “D:VERSE” in 2022, cult-loved label Diesel announced an upcoming collaboration with prolific blockchain collective HAPE. Set to launch very soon, the awaited drop — co-created by Diesel’s creative director, Glenn Martens and HAPE’s founder, Digimental — will include digital collectibles with rewards of the likes of a limited edition 1DR Pod crossbody bag, access to exclusive events and community benefits.
Prada’s eighth time-capsule NFT drop offered the chance to attend the Menswear Fall/Winter 2023 show in Milan.
Prada
Prada
Prada continued to embrace the world of Web3 and NFTs as it made its entrance into 2023. The brand’s latest time capsule NFT collection, which dropped January 5, featured prints designed by Italian photographer Enzo Ragazzini in 1969. Furthermore, those who held a Prada Time capsule NFT, were a member of the Prada Crypted Discord and were verified as a holder in the Discord had the opportunity to attend the Prada Menswear Fall/Winter 2023 fashion show in Milan on January 15.
Artist Amber Park launched fashion tech brand PLAY! POP! GO!
Phaidon
Phaidon
Phaidon
Phaidon
Phaidon
Amber Park, the multi-hyphenate artist behind the successful NFT collection “I LIKE YOU, YOU’RE WEIRD,” has now revealed the launch of a blockchain-based fashion tech brand, “PLAY! POP! GO!” The latest venture offers an innovative gamified approach to luxury streetwear, ready-to-wear garments, fine art, objects, immersive installations and digital experiences. Envisioned as an elevated, polysexual brand, “PPG” will launch its virtual ecosystem, PLAY3, in February along with its first digital collectible offering, Dreamboxes, which will grant purchasers early access to the brand’s first collection and entry to activations.
Valentino exclusively used AI for its latest collection campaign.
Maison Valentino
Maison Valentino
Maison Valentino
Maison Valentino
In a bid to push the boundaries of innovation and highlight the possibilities that arise with the collaboration of AI and fashion, Maison Valentino revealed an editorial for its “Essential” line, entirely shot using artificial intelligence. Coming to life through the partnership of art director Tommaso Garner and AI designer Vittorio Maria Dal Maso, timeless and evolving staples told the story of Valentino while using emerging technologies to propel the brand into the future.
Rolling Stone and Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova released “Matriarchy Now” NFT Collection
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Nadya Tolokonnikova, co-founder of the Russian anti-government punk collective Pussy Riot, teamed up with Rolling Stone to promote inclusivity in the metaverse with an exclusive “Matriarchy Now” NFT collection. The artist notably raised more than $12 million USD through cryptocurrency last year to support various causes, including reproductive rights and funding LGBTQ and female artists. This time, the release included a series of portraits that reflect on art and sexuality by photographer Ellen von Unwerth. All profits from sales went to Tolokonnikova’s and John Caldwell’s reproductive rights charity portal, LegalAbortion.Eth.
Tiffany’s “NFTiffs” customers finally received their diamond CryptoPunk pendants.
Gmoney Nftiffs
Nearly six months after Tiffany’s “NFTiffs” sold out within 20 minutes of their launch in August 2022, consumers finally received their custom diamond CryptoPunk pendants. Created in collaboration with CryptoPunks, the limited-edition diamond pendants feature unique pixel art characters. Last year, Tiffany & Co. made headlines for selling all 250 “NFTiffs,” offered to CryptoPunks holders for the steep price of 30 ETH (approximately $50,000 USD) and generating a total of $12.5 million USD in sales.
Cartier launched an AR experience in select stores to try exclusive rings only available URL.
Cartier
Cartier
Cartier
Cartier
French luxury Maison Cartier, founded in 1847, stepped into the future by merging craftsmanship with augmented reality (AR) technology to offer a unique service that leverages the quality of in-store experiences. The project was made possible through a system called “The Looking Glass,” a lamp-style artifact with an inside camera connected to an iPad. This software allows consumers to scan their hands and try on exclusive designs via AR that might not be readily available to try on otherwise.
Takashi Murakami presented his first solo exhibition in Dubai, including artworks from his debut NFT project.
©2022 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Courtesy Perrotin Photo: Altamash Urooj.
©2022 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Courtesy Perrotin Photo: Altamash Urooj.
Renowned Japanese artist Takashi Murakami debuted his first solo show in Dubai late last year. The exhibition, which was on view at ICD Brookfield Place until January 28, showcased a selection of Murakami’s iconic paintings, sculptures, and installations, including his NFT project, Murakami.Flowers and a series dedicated to Mr. DOB, who has become an avatar for the artist himself.
Louis Vuitton used AR to cover landmarks with Yayoi Kusama’s signature dots.
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton unveiled its latest Web3 project as part of its collaborative collection with Yayoi Kusama, a series of augmented reality landmarks decorated with the artist’s signature dots. The project included several iconic must-sees worldwide, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, Tower Bridge, Arc de Triomphe, the Natural History Museum and London’s National Gallery, and was created using Snapchat’s Landmark lenses.
Benoit Challand teased a brand new NFT series titled “ENTER THE WORKCORE.”
Benoit Challand/Mode Singulier
Benoit Challand/Mode Singulier
Following previous digital collections, “WELCOME HOME” and “THE OTHER SIDE,” artist and designer Benoit Challand has revealed his third series of NFTs is coming. Dubbed “ENTER THE WORKCORE,” the project is described as the “meeting between the raw and tangy.” Scheduled to go on sale on February 3 on the new platform “Monde Singulier,” the upcoming NFT release comprises nine videos telling a story in three acts. Elsewhere, the collection is rolled out in a range of virtual furniture that comes to life almost on a catwalk.
Publisher Phaidon unveiled new book, Internet_Art: From the Birth of the Web to the Rise of NFTs
Phaidon
Phaidon
Earlier this year, publisher company PHAIDON announced a forthcoming book that documents the rapid rise of the Internet and how it has cultivated a new breed of artists across analog and digital narratives. Dubbed Internet Art: From the Birth of the Web to the Rise of NFTs, the hardcover explores the instants that defined art within the digital age — from the birth of the World Wide Web (WWW) to the rise of NFTs. Written and edited by Egyptian artist Omar Kholeif, the book also showcases the work of iconic artists such as Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Nam June Paik, Heather Phillipson and Wu Tsang.
