Fashion of the Future: A glimpse into digital fashion
Artwork by Kimaya Sarin
By Jessica Leff, University of Maryland College Park ‘22
No matter how often we watch the movie Clueless, we all yearn for that iconic digital closet software displayed on Cher’s clunky computer screen. Over 25 years have passed since its release, yet here I am, still staring into my overflowing closet of options, frustrated because I simply have nothing to wear.
Packing up my clothes to head back to school, I was amazed to come across so many pieces of clothing that went an entire summer virtually untouched. So after a year of just sweatpants and hoodies, I turned to technology to revamp my closet and explore fashion through new routes.
To my surprise, I discovered an abundance of digital fashion platforms. From games to virtual styling services, in addition to apps solely made to digitize your wardrobe, the possibilities seemed endless. It is clear that the concept of digital fashion is here to stay, and it can only arise from here.
Below are my top, most exciting findings.
Digital Couture
Can fashion ever be sustainable? It’s a known fact that the fashion industry is one of the most threatening to our environment; however, new technologies may reduce these damages. With social media taking over nearly every aspect of our daily lives, imagine styling our online personas.
DRESSX took this idea and made it a reality. Basically, DRESSX is looking to replace physical clothing items with digital equivalents to be used as social media content. Simply upload a photo of yourself, pay for your designer “garment,” and in return, you’ll receive an image of you wearing the piece, which can be shared across all social media platforms. Need a fashion-forward top for a Zoom interview in a pinch? Or just want to play dress-up with Paris fashion week couture without spending a fortune. This concept could connect with the younger generations and create a new sustainable pathway within the fashion retail space.
Virtual Models
Designers were challenged to display their latest creations worldwide amidst a global pandemic and COVID restrictions on large fashion shows. Thus, with the help of technology, virtual models were born. Furthermore, digitizing garments helped reduce waste as clothes that haven’t even been manufactured yet can still be shared online.
Shudu Gram is one of the most talked-about digital models on Instagram, with over 218,000 followers and counting. Using CGI (Computer-generated imagery), this life-like online persona was created by visual artist and fashion photographer Cameron-James Wilson. Furthermore, Wilson has become the CEO of The Digitals, the world’s first all-digital modeling agency.
Smart Wardrobes
Intrigued to see if anyone has attempted an application like Cher’s virtual wardrobe, I went straight to Google. Almost all of the top links highlighted Whering, an app that digitizes your closet, with Clueless as to its main inspiration.
Ultimately, this app allows users to organize and plan outfits, get styling suggestions, and even sustainable product recommendations to fill the gaps in their wardrobe. Instead of constantly buying new pieces, Whering showcases the consumers’ garments in a new light, promoting them to reinvest in what they already own.
Luxury NFTs
In the world of cryptocurrency, NFT stands for non-fungible token and can represent anything digital from games, photographs, artwork, music, and more. In recent months, the fashion industry has finally entered this space, using new methods to promote its brands and products.
While most luxury brands are taking things slow within this new field, Gucci was one of the first to launch a successful NFT back in May. Created to celebrate the company’s 100th year and inspired by their Fall/Winter 2021 collection, the Gucci Aria film was put up for auction hosted by Christie’s. It was sold for an incredible amount of $25,000, and all of the proceeds from this NFT sale went to UNICEF USA to improve the global access of COVID-19 vaccines.
