Fashion Week Connect

Summary

Digital Fashion Designer’s Council, a non-profit organisation spearheaded by industry giants including founder David Cash, Antoni Tudisco, Megan Kaspar, and Nick Knight, aims to bridge the gap between physical and digital fashion with its Fashion Week Connect event series. 

This dynamic, cross-platform series integrates digital fashion into the traditional fashion landscape by connecting fashion brands’ digital ecosystems with their physical products and experiences.

History

Per Forbes: ‘According to a report from Allied Analytics, the global market for digital fashion is expected to grow from $498.7 million in 2021 to $4.8 billion by 2031 at a CAGR of 26.4 per cent. Blockchain and Web3 comprised 33 per cent of this market size and are expected to lead through 2031.’ 

As the fashion industry continues to evolve, integration of Web3 technologies with existing Web 2.0 systems is encouraging transformation in both physical and digital fashion business models and reshaping how fashion brands and designers interact with consumers and manage their digital assets. The integration of cutting-edge technologies promises to transform the retail sector, changing how consumers shop and how brands interact with their shoppers.

Addressing fashion brands’ daunting task of interoperability between platforms by connecting their digital ecosystems with tangible products and experiences, the Digital Fashion Designer’s Council aims to offer a cohesive experience across all touch-points with the launch of its flagship event series, “Fashion Week Connect.” 

This fall, industry giants Nick Knight, Megan Kaspar, Antoni Tudisco, Marjorie Hernandez, and many more have joined forces with the Council to present an innovative cross-platform program of experiences, seamlessly integrating the physical and digital worlds of fashion via newly developed infrastructure under the umbrella of their “Fashion Week Connect” event series.

Per David Cash: “We are connecting brands with the digital ecosystems in which consumers spend most of their time, from social media to gaming platforms. Over 50% of the world’s population spent time on a social media app or in a video game platform today. We are creating the DFDC to bridge physical products with the digital world, connecting brands with consumers, expanding on loyalty programs, creating game integrations, XR filters, immersive experiences, and more.”

September 2024 witnessed the spectacular debut of Fashion Week Connect, a pivotal moment in global fashion, that brought together the most innovative fashion design and technologies to pave the way for the future of fashion. The launch event, curated by DFDC, exhibited digital fashion displays from luxury fashion brands ranging from Balenciaga to Prada, alongside works by iconic digital artists, including Antoni Tudisco, Ines Alpha, The Dematerialised, Fvckrender, IoDF, Glitch of Mind and DRESSX. The introductory soiree of Fashion Week Connect.

Per Ritz Herald: ‘One of the standout features of the night was the touring AR Mirror Installation by FFFACE.ME, showcasing a collaboration with Prada. Guests were captivated by the flagship AR Mirror, which demonstrated the AR Filter created in collaboration with honorary founding DFDC member Ines Alpha for Prada’s Paradoxe Virtual Flower fragrance, a 360-degree immersive fashion runway experience, and 144+ digital and connected fashion creations exhibited throughout the venue.’

Fashion Week Connect will also feature activations across major cities, including Paris, New York, London, and Singapore, at events ranging from Digital Fashion Week at the Epic Games HQ in London to Next in Vogue by Vogue Singapore to storefronts and digital activations across the Reality Spectrum. Per Knight: “We are living in the most exciting time in fashion imagery that I have ever known. For fashion, magazine pages are being replaced by the virtual and the digital space. The audience is now fully interactive and also truly global. 

Per Megan Kaspar, Founding Member of RED DAO and Chief Advisor and Executive Board member of the Digital Fashion Designers Council:  “As digital asset counterparts become standard for physical products — including metadata on-chain and 3D technology, the DFDC is at the forefront, assisting brands in linking their physical items with their broader digital ecosystems. The DFDC’s mission is to drive a streamlined digital transformation solution to the traditional fashion industry, tethering their physical products to the digital revolution omniverse.”

Fashion Week Connect will feature activations across major cities, including Paris, New York, London, and Singapore, at events ranging from Digital Fashion Week at the Epic Games HQ in London to Next in Vogue by Vogue Singapore to storefronts and digital activations across the “Reality Spectrum.” 

Programming will include Diesel’s Metamorph project, a VIP reception in Los Angeles hosted by Red DAO and the DFDC featuring physical touchpoints from Dolce & Gabbana’s Collezione Genesi collection, a digital fashion activation by FabriX as part of Paris Fashion Week at the Palais de Tokyo, and the launch of the “Digital Fashion Film Festival” by SHOWstudio featuring the likes of Charli XCX and Naomi Campbell. With fashion by Loewe, Bottega Veneta, Mugler, Balenciaga and more, the festival showcases the future of fashion film through the eyes of legendary image-maker Nick Knight.

Per Nick Knight: ‘“We are living in the most exciting time in fashion imagery that I have ever known. For fashion, magazine pages are being replaced by the virtual and the digital space. The audience is now fully interactive and also truly global.”

Fashion industry professionals, digital pioneers, and fashion enthusiasts are invited to be part of this initiative. Connect with the DFDC, participate in Fashion Week Connect, launching this September, and help shape the future of fashion. 

Vision

Fashion Connect envisions bridging the gap between physical fashion products and the digital realm, offering a unified and immersive experience for brands and consumers. By facilitating seamless interoperability between platforms, Fashion Connect enables fashion brands to connect their digital ecosystems with tangible products and real-world experiences. With the rise of digital assets, including metadata and 3D technology, the Digital Fashion Designer’s Council is committed to leading this transformation. Their vision is to provide a streamlined solution that helps fashion brands integrate their physical fashion items with the broader digital landscape, ensuring a cohesive and future-forward approach to fashion.

Through innovative activations across major fashion capitals such as Paris, New York, London, and Singapore, Fashion Connect aims to redefine how fashion is experienced globally. Events like Digital Fashion Week at the Epic Games HQ and Next in Vogue by Vogue Singapore will showcase the power of virtual and digital platforms in shaping the future of fashion. As the traditional fashion industry undergoes a digital revolution, Fashion Connect positions itself at the forefront, offering fashion brands and consumers a fully interactive and immersive experience that transcends geographic boundaries.

Mission

Fashion Connect’s mission is to revolutionize the fashion industry by merging the physical and digital worlds, enabling fashion brands to offer a seamless and interactive experience for consumers. Through advanced technologies such as 3D modelling and metadata integration, Fashion Connect seeks to empower fashion brands to bridge their physical products with digital platforms. This mission is anchored in providing innovative tools and solutions that ensure interoperability between these realms, allowing for a more cohesive and forward-thinking approach to fashion that aligns with the evolving digital landscape.

By partnering with influential platforms and fashion brands, Fashion Connect is committed to reshaping the future of fashion on a global scale. Their goal is to create immersive, borderless experiences that bring together the best of the virtual and real worlds, making fashion more accessible and engaging for a diverse, worldwide audience. As the industry moves into the digital age, Fashion Connect aims to be a leader in this transformation, facilitating dynamic connections between fashion houses, consumers, and digital ecosystems.

Services

Fashion Connect offers comprehensive solutions to help fashion brands achieve seamless interoperability between their physical products and digital ecosystems. By integrating digital assets such as metadata and 3D technology with tangible items, Fashion Connect ensures that brands can provide a cohesive, immersive experience for consumers across all platforms. With guidance from the Digital Fashion Designers Council, it assists fashion houses in linking their physical products to the broader digital landscape, streamlining the transition to a more connected and future-forward fashion industry.

Through events like Digital Fashion Week and Next in Vogue by Vogue Singapore, Fashion Connect brings its vision to life with immersive experiences that engage audiences globally. By facilitating activations across major fashion capitals like Paris, New York, London, and Singapore, Fashion Connect allows fashion brands to connect with consumers in both the virtual and physical realms. Their services not only focus on creating engaging digital experiences but also on expanding the reach of fashion by making it interactive and accessible to a truly global audience, transforming how fashion is presented and consumed.

References

• Official website of Digital Fashion Designer’s Council DFDC
• Digital Fashion Designers’ Council Debuts With Fashion Week Connect Events WWD
• Launch of Fashion Week Connect Ritz Herald
• Twitter account of Digital Fashion Designer’s Council Twitter
• Luxury giants rally behind new digital fashion initiative Jing Daily
• Instagram account of Digital Fashion Designer’s Council Instagram
• LinkedIn account of Digital Fashion Designer’s Council LinkedIn
• David Cash and the Digital Fashion Designers Council on Future-Forward Fashion Vogue