Who's That Cyber Bae? Our Favorite Fashion NFTs and Web3 Projects of SS24 Fashion Month
From Collina Strada’s AI-derived garments and smiles to AVAVAV’s newest NFT-linked shoe.
We can all agree that fashion month has never felt so futuristic, from the BOSS presentation featuring Sophia the Robot and a set design straight out of a sci-fi movie to collections crafted with artificial intelligence (AI), like Susan Fang’s exploration of dreams and machines. Spring/Summer 2024 has been brimming with forward-looking surprises and we’ve very much enjoyed each one.
There have been multiple and diverse explorations of evolving fashion craftsmanship and innovation, approached from various playful angles. Highlights include AVAVAV’s co-created NFT-linked shoe with its community and Sabato de Sarno initiative of bridging the physical and digital realms to bring his GUCCI debut to different audiences. Let’s not forget Snapchat’s collaboration with NEWGEN, bringing past beauty moments from London Fashion Week to life or Coperni’s Web3 moving image, offering a thousand new interpretations of a classic tale
From augmented reality (AR) beauty to digital couture funds, AI-derived collections and holographic front rows, the list goes on. Keep scrolling to discover our favorite cyber collections and Web3 initiatives from SS24.
AVAVAV and Onlyever Co-Created an NFT-Backed Shoe With Their Community
AVAVAV
Beate Karlsson’s AVAVAV showcased its SS24 collection in a unique and chaotic runway presentation at Milan Fashion Week. Among the surprises of the show was the unveiling of the “Hoofster” shoe, a phygital creation in partnership with digital platform OnlyEver. The product was crafted by co-creating with the AVAVAV community, wherein the final design evolved from the initial concept. Each “Hoofster” shoe is made-to-order, with an NFT blockchain connection, providing its owner with a digital counterpart. Priced at €750 EUR (approximately $795 USD), these avant-garde shoes are available for pre-order on the OnlyEver website.
Coperni Gave 320,000 New Endings to the Classic Tale of the Wolf and the Lamb
Coperni
Coperni presented a modern twist on the classic tale of The Wolf and the Lamb, exploring the intricate relationship between humans and technology. Building on its Fall/Winter 2023 show, the polymorphic video features Lila Grace Moss engaging with a remote, blurring the boundaries between man and machine. Coperni seeks to find a better equilibrium between the two, allowing interpretation of this dynamic. Directed by Alexandre Silberstein and Florent Canale, the 40-second film, accompanied by Anomaly Spectre’s musical compositions, will continuously play for six months, offering 320,000 different versions. The story is accessible on Epic Games Unreal Engine and Coperni’s YouTube channel.
Collina Strada and KSENIASCHNAIDER’s SS24 Collection Were Derived From AI
Collina Stradal/KSENIASCHNAIDER
Collina Strada took a bold step during New York Fashion Week, unveiling its SS24 collection primarily designed by AI. The brand’s designers trained AI software Midjourney using their design archive dating back to 2008, refining the generated designs iteratively. The final AI designs were transformed into physical garments by the studio team. Similarly, the SS24 collection by KSENIASCHNAIDER delved into the juxtaposition of the past versus the present and traditional heritage versus modern technologies. Experimenting with AI, the brand created playful denim shapes inspired by Ukrainian traditional ensembles.
HELIOT EMIL Delved Into the Machine’s Capacity To Mimic Human Creativity in Fashion
The legacy of Alan Turing’s “Turing Test” continues to inspire as HELIOT EMIL delved into the intersection of human and AI creativity. The HELIOT EMIL SS24 project and installation, inspired by Turing’s question, scrutinized AI’s capability to replicate human-like intelligence in fashion design. The project ventured to blur the boundaries between human and AI creativity, provoking contemplation on conventional notions of aesthetic complexity. As the fashion world explores the realm of AI-driven design, HELIOT EMIL’s endeavor exemplifies the ongoing fascination with Turing’s age-old query: Can machines truly mimic human ingenuity?
DRESSX and Diesel Collaborated on Signature Metaverse Styles
DRESSX x Diesel
DRESSX and Diesel joined forces to introduce an exclusive digital fashion collection on the Meta Avatars Store. The collaboration marked Diesel’s debut in the digital realm, featuring its signature denim, shapes and latest collections. The partnership seamlessly merged DRESSX’s digital fashion expertise with Diesel’s iconic style, blurring the lines between reality and the virtual world. The collection, crafted to capture Diesel’s fashion essence, included 10 iconic Diesel looks, available on Instagram, Facebook, Messenger and Quest VR. Those who purchase the collection can now outfit their avatars with Diesel’s denim jackets, jeans, streetwear and sneakers.
Snapchat and the Design Museum Brought Iconic LFW Moments to Life
Snapchat
Snapchat partnered with the Design Museum for the “REBEL: 30 Years of London Fashion” exhibition, sponsored by Alexander McQueen. The collaboration utilizes Snapchat’s Augmented Reality (AR) technology to provide a unique fashion experience. Visitors can use AR lenses to virtually try on iconic designer outfits and step into the backstage world of London’s fashion shows. The exhibition features AR vanity mirrors, activated with a simple hand swipe, that allows visitors to experiment with photorealistic AR hairstyles and makeup tailored to their individual facial structures. Nine AR Lenses dedicated to specific designers and seasons celebrate fashion icons like Chet Lo, Gareth Pugh and Richard Quinn. The exhibition is open until February 11, 2024.
The Fabricant Celebrated Identity and Self-acceptance with “WHOLELAND Primal Rave”
The Fabricant
The Fabricant unveiled “WHOLELAND Primal Rave” during NYFW. The collection, inspired by 1n0’s mythological journey, explored self-discovery through club culture. 1n0, a character embodying multiple gender-ambiguous avatars, navigated an underground rave scene, shedding layers of identity. Each piece of crafted digital couture represented 1n0’s diverse personalities, celebrating sensuality and sexuality and promoting guilt-free self-acceptance. The full collection is now available for purchase on The Fabricant’s website.
Future Front Row Began a Holographic Revolution During Amsterdam Fashion Week
Future Front Row
Future Front Row, a groundbreaking hologram fashion catwalk, stole the spotlight during Amsterdam Fashion Week at the iconic Felix Meritis cultural house. The two-day event showcased pioneering digital fashion designers, pushing fashion’s boundaries, including Augmented Weaving, DressX, Mutani, Av0lve, Orthodoxx, Suza Vos x Harriet Blend, The Fabricant, Code Couture and Polygon Dressing. Attendees witnessed the fusion of art, technology and fashion as holographic models donned digital garments on the runway. With 700 attendees, the event marked a resounding success, redefining the fashion show experience.
Digital Couture Took Center Stage in Genies’ Newly Unveiled $500K USD Fund and “The Workshop”
Genies
Genies launched a $500,000 Fashion Engagement Fund and “The Workshop” platform for 3D digital fashion. “The Workshop” offers self-serve tools, creative prompts and a vast fashion kit, enabling artists and creators to craft, release and monetize personalized 3D digital fashion. Notably, collaboration opportunities with artists like Khalid and BANKS are in the pipeline. To qualify for the Fashion Engagement Fund, creators must submit successful assets through “The Workshop,” using Genies’ creator tools. Accepted creations will become part of the Genies ecosystem, enhancing personalization for avatars via the Silver Studio app. Furthermore, this year at NYFW, the company introduced “Pixels,” a trio of avatars embodying a girl gang aesthetic, crafted by independent creators who embrace the evolving landscape of digital fashion.
Sabato de Sarno’s Gucci Debuted in Both the Real and the Digital Worlds
Gucci
Under the creative direction of Sabato de Sarno, Gucci marked a memorable debut at Milan Fashion Week. The collection, titled “Ancora,” embodied the spirit of life, passion and inclusivity, aligning with the brand’s commitment to welcoming all. Alongside this, Gucci ventured into the metaverse, recreating the Milan Fashion Week experience digitally. This initiative ensured accessibility across platforms like Roblox, Zepeto and QQ, extending inclusivity to the virtual world. Unlike the physical event disrupted by rain, the metaverse experience proceeded seamlessly. Gucci Town on Roblox, initially launched in May 2022, was rebranded as Gucci Ancora. It featured a refined design, allowing players to interact with flat artwork and unlock immersive quests related to the real-world show, while discovering surprises and secret portals.
