Katarina Šikman: Application of Virtual Fashion Design in the Metaverse
Graduate student Katarina Šikman defended her master thesis with the title Application of Virtual Fashion Design in the Metaverse
Abstract:
The fashion industry is one of the major polluters, negatively impacting the environment by generating excessive waste during the production process and after the final product is made if clothing remains unsold. In conventional fashion production, it has been observed that between 15% and 25% of the fabric used for making clothing represents waste. 3D modeling software has transformational potential in addressing this issue. Traditional design processes consist of conceptual ideas, sketching, pattern creation, and finally, the creation of the sample. It is during the sketching and pattern creation process that fashion designers generate the most waste. If fashion designers were to use 3D modeling software, the processes from idea sketching to the creation of samples could be expedited, waste reduced, and the traditional method replaced with a more efficient and quicker approach (McQuillan, 2020).
Digital fashion or virtual 3D fashion can be defined as an innovative technology that uses digital models to showcase clothing before it is physically produced. The advantages of using technology to develop digital clothing items are reflected in more efficient production processes, reduced costs and waste, and the ability to create unique and sustainable fashion items. Digital fashion offers a solution to overproduction and generic offerings in the fashion industry, creating new opportunities for creativity and business models (Särmäkari, 2023).
Digital clothing items can also be used in the virtual world, the metaverse. The metaverse is a relatively new technology that is still underdeveloped, but numerous research points to various aspects of metaverse functionality. In the fashion industry, the potential of the metaverse is being felt, and fashion brands are exploring ways to enter the metaverse and engage with their consumers. The first fashion brands that ventured into the metaverse include Balenciaga, Jimmy Choo, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, and others. Given the growing popularity of online shopping and digital consumer behavior, luxury fashion brands are expected to experience significant growth in digital demand in the coming years (Mogaji, Dwivedi, & Raman, 2023).
This paper offers a theoretical and practical example of the application of virtual fashion design in the metaverse. The structure of the paper is divided into three aspects. The first aspect deals with the theoretical development of concepts related to virtual fashion design, providing insights into the characteristics of virtual reality and fashion design. It also presents the importance of personal identity and its correlation with digital avatars in fashion within the metaverse. Following this, the paper introduces basic concepts of the metaverse, examples of its application in fashion and fashion design, and concludes with the use of non-fungible tokens in the metaverse. The second aspect covers the impact of the metaverse on fashion and fashion design, the tools required for creating the metaverse, and the significance of using the metaverse and virtual reality in the sale of clothing items. The third section presents a case study of the application of virtual fashion design in the metaverse and outlines a plan for selling it in the metaverse in the form of non-fungible tokens.
The presentation can be seen on the LINK.