First ever Metaverse Fashion Week
From 24-27th of March, WeAr visited the Metaverse Fashion Week which offered both catwalk and shopping experiences displaying known brands as well as emerging talent.
This has been set up to ease people into familiar environments and aimed to replicate its counterparts in New York or Paris. Clearly as a response to the growing trend of virtual clothing which has been happening since the past two years and accelerated by the pandemic.
Brands like Perry Ellis, Dolce & Gabbana and Philip Plein presented collections on virtual runways, usually metaverse wearables (items that can be purchased and worn virtually in the Metaverse). Panel talks were hosted with the likes of Tommy Hilfiger, about Dressing Avatars, the Future of Commerce and Sustainability. And, naturally, there were “after parties”.
The whole programme could be viewed easily on a website and one could ‘jump in’ to participate in one of the programmes. This could either be done with an existing crypto wallet account or alternatively simply as a guest. Once a guest avatar was created one entered into the Metaverse Fashion Week which has a game like character including a map of the different locations where events where happening. Using keyboard and mouse the avatar could walk around, change perspectives, much like in familiar video games.
Dolce & Gabbana’s full look presentation on cat-faced avatars (a play on the word catwalk) were viable in an exclusive Dolce & Gabbana pop-up in Decentraland’s (the is one of the Metaverse worlds) Luxury Fashion District curated by marketplace UNXD.
Etro previewed a real-world collection at the show called Liquid Paisley including men’s and women’s styles alongside accessories.
Hogan and Giuseppe Zanotti meanwhile debuted NFT collections. Hogan set up a pop-up store in Decentraland, selling its physical products as redeemable NFTs n collaboration with Exclusible, a platform for luxury NFTs and metaverse activations. Giuseppe Zanotti worked with blue-chip NFT community DeadFellaz and the neon NFT marketplace to release a series of sneaker NFTs. The collaboration offers the digital-only ‘Cobras’ sneakers which was first available physically in 2021.
The event was open to the general public, not just fashion professionals or insiders. Being there as actual avatars also displayed how many people are around you. Many of those seemed to be regulars in the Metaverse which were there to explore ’the game’ as opposed to judge the fashion. Shopping (for NFTs etc) was the main part – maybe to get access to a garment which later on increases in value.
How successful this was, is hard to say. The general public yet has to be able to enter it.
Decentraland does offer access via desktop only (provided the computer has enough processing power) as opposed to needing a VR headset. However, after the pandemic, when IRL Events are increasing again the question begs: do people, who are not usually active in the virtual environment or are yet to be acquainted with it, trade in a sunny warm day in March to sitting in front of a laptop and viewing what can be googled thereafter?
AlphaTauri “100 Days Flagship Store Vienna” event
One hundred days after the opening of its flagship store in Vienna, AlphaTauri welcomes over one hundred press and media representatives and friends of the brand for a cocktail event.
On the evening of 24th March guests enjoyed an exclusive shopping experience in an extraordinary atmosphere: amidst the futuristic store design and current spring/summer collection for women and men, AlphaTauri offers a holistic brand experience.
In the immediate vicinity of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the approx. 400 square metre store presents the latest collections, key looks and accessories for women and men across two stories. With a monochrome interior made of brushed aluminium – interspersed with natural materials – and custom-designed lighting, the store interior is itself a statement for the lively design language of AlphaTauri. The store furnishings reflect the innovative approach of the brand. The interplay of digital and innovative elements ensures a unique shopping experience and is part of the outstanding, customer-oriented concept.
With regard to innovation, visitors can submerse themselves in an “Experience Area” on the ground floor and learn more about 3D knitting technology. Alongside a more sustainable production approach, 3D knitting technology offers numerous other product and design advantages including improved comfort thanks to seam-free designs.
Taipei Fashion Week raises global visibility by partnering with Joor Passport
Taipei Fashion Week has partnered with JOOR PASSPORT for a second iteration of the “TPEFW Online Virtual Event” during the FW22 season. Launched on March 21st, the Taipei Fashion Week digital event on JOOR Passport showcased 27 Taiwanese designers and empower them to build long-term partnerships with international retailers, increasing opportunities for Taiwanese fashion brands to expand their markets globally.
“Asia has become a focal geographically for JOOR because of the large number of talented designers across the region,” said Kristin Savilia, CEO of JOOR. “It is exciting to once again power the virtual component of Taipei Fashion Week, which will play a critical role in the hybrid event taking place in late March. It is wonderful to see in-person shows returning, and JOOR is honoured to extend the reach of this event to a global audience.”
MICAM Milano promotes the fourth edition of the Emerging Designers
MICAM Milano promotes the fourth edition of the EMERGING DESIGNERS project, the event area located in Pav. 1E dedicated to 12 international shoe designers, selected through an innovative concept realised in collaboration with Honegger agency.
The applications of the international designers who have registered for the contest, have been evaluated by a jury of fashion and communication experts, chaired by the designer Ernesto Esposito. For the 2021 contest the jury was composed by Eva Geraldine Fontanelli, Mauro Galligari, Angelo Lanza, Maximilian Linz and Riccardo Slavik.
The jury members have been invited to make an important contribution to the final selection of 12 Emerging Designers. They expressed their influential point of view, gained over the course of their professional and perso- nal path in fields such as fashion and communication which are constantly evolving.
In fashion, more than in any other sectors, the involved actors have always had the ability to adapt themselves to the gre- at changes of the world, often foreseeing them. Just think how topical issues such as climate, economy, culture, so- ciety have played a key role in the latest fashion collections.
The Emerging Designers selected by the jury established for the editions of September 2021 and March 2022 of MICAM will have access to a new renaissance scenery where fashion will have the main task of inspiring and drive creativity and innovation for the products that consumers will want to buy; through the purchasing choices, people will aim to strongly communicate their messages.
“We are proud to say that we are receiving requests from all over the world to be part of the Emerging Designers Project. For the fourth year now, we have invested more and more on a project we strongly believe, and which is very important and strategic for the future of our event and for the footwear industry.
Portugal Fashion Week: Celebrating 50 years of Portugal Fashion
Portugal Fashion Week has successfully completed its 50th edition.
The event, which took place March 16-19th 2022 in Porto’s Alfândega location, right by the river, did an excellent job in combining young designers, established ones, including both trade and consumers, and offered novel insights and experiences.
Portugal Fashion’s director Mónica Neto promised “a great, great edition” and one could tell that this open-minded, energetic organizer’s team carefully crafted an event with the aim to position Portuguese fashion further on the international calendar.
The format presented a showroom for buyers and press, almost 40 runway shows as well as panel talks. Emerging designers from Portugal and those with Portuguese connections were presented alongside, surprisingly, African once. Through a partnership between ANJE (National Association of Young Entrepreneurs) and CANEX (Creative African Nexus) 20 designers with African roots showed their work on catwalks and in the showroom to promote the African textile and clothing industry.
The Bloom platform presented young fashion designers alongside renowned Portuguese labels, all of them displaying their latest A/W 22/23 creations throughout clothing, footwear, and accessories. Known designers included David Catalán, who previously showed on Milan’s official calendar, Ernest W. Baker, Pé de Chumbo and Susana Bettencourt, all no foreigners to international trade fairs. Shows which especially stood out were NOPIN, DAVII and HUARTE . NOPIN, a sustainable brand, presenting the collection for the first time at Portugal Fashion Week, creates playful womenswear using geometric forms and textures to stand out. DAVII reminds of Rick Owens’ designs: futuristic goddesses walked past in an eerie setting wrapped in silky, flowing fabrics. Bloom’s young designer Victor Huarte presented his menswear collection HUARTE, which was perceived especially well with the international audience. Preppy streetwear in Americana style was mainly dipped in the current trend color green.
However, the event also reminded that Portugal is a hub for the footwear industry with Luís Onofre’s collection, whose footwear creations spark creativity alongside other commercial names like Fly London.
Alongside multiple networking events, the event also aligned with the opening of the exhibition “Portugal Pop. Fashion in Portuguese. 1970-2020” at Casa do Design. If one hasn’t grasped it during the shows, latest at this exhibition Portugal’s fashion craftsmanship was highlighted. This should come as no surprise, as it is one of Europe’s prime destinations for textile production.
Whilst Portugal is still finding its place on the European fashion map, the country with endless beaches and high quality of life offers a sparkling fashion scene that is rich in creativity and innovation. Full with young visionary people, there is a lot to be expected in the next years and one can already look forward to the Spring/Summer event. For all buyers a top tip is to find a rare truffle to complement a store’s selection.
Neonyt: adapted concept for summer 2022
From 24 to 26 June 2022, the new Neonyt Lab will bring together a variety of formats in Frankfurt am Main aimed at the entire sustainable cross-sector community
In a central location in Frankfurt am Main, Neonyt – as a progressive trend platform and the most important meeting place for sustainable fashion and textiles industry – will also be presenting the topic of sustainability to end consumers. The community can expect three inspiring days with a wide-ranging programme: fashion show, D2C trade show, conference and showcases, content creator event and networking space – the new Neonyt Lab invites brands, consumers, buyers, designers, trendsetters and fashion enthusiasts to inform themselves and exchange ideas on the most pressing topic of our time. “In the last few years, we have attracted a lot of interest from end consumers,” says Bettina Bär, Show Director of Neonyt. “We strive to constantly develop and improve and want to ensure that our formats encourage a knowledge transfer and exchange of ideas centred around the overarching of sustainability within the most diverse of target groups. That is why we are opening up our community even more to end consumers and taking the cross-sector relevance of Neonyt to the next level.”
In addition to this forward-looking meeting of international leading textile fairs Techtextil, Texprocess and Heimtextil Summer Special and the progressive Neonty Lab, Messe Frankfurt is working intensively on the further expansion of the B2B community platform Neonyt. With creative and decentralized approaches as well as an internationalization of the format, Neonyt as the most important hub of the sustainable textile and fashion industry will drive the exchange of the sustainability community worldwide and offer brands a profitable, innovative platform with even greater reach in the future.
Frankfurt Fashion Week: Summer 2022
Everything in Frankfurt am Main is set to revolve around the Frankfurt Fashion Week from 20 to 26 June 2022. Exhibitions, shows, talks, etc., will bring to life the subjects of sustainability, fashion, lifestyle and fashion culture. Parallel to this, Messe Frankfurt will bundle its globally oriented events for the textile and fashion industry and spotlight themes of relevance to the international fashion sector within the framework of the Fashion Week. The events concerned are the leading textile trade fairs, Techtextil, Texprocess and Heimtextil Summer Edition. Furthermore, many of Neonyt’s innovative business and experiential formats focusing on the mega trend of sustainability will be held at locations in downtown Frankfurt.
Frankfurt’s mayor, Peter Feldmann, is delighted: “Frankfurt is the place for fashion – and there will be no doubt about this after the coming summer’s Frankfurt Fashion Week. Our local design and fashion world has no need to be shy and, with the Frankfurt Fashion Week, has a great opportunity to present itself in all its diversity. Moreover, by focusing on sustainability, we also demonstrate what Frankfurt am Main stands for today as a green city. This is also the focus of Neonyt that, together with the leading textile trade fairs, will expand the programme for consumers to include a comprehensive, internationally oriented range of products and services for trade visitors from the European textile and fashion sector. And this is only possible here in Frankfurt.”
Putting the focus on outstanding innovations and sustainable production processes of the fashion industry, Techtextil, the leading international trade fair for textiles and nonwovens, Texprocess, the leading international trade fair for processing textile and flexible materials, and Heimtextil Summer Edition, international trade fair for home and contract textiles, will be held at Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre from 21 to 24 June 2022. Thus, Messe Frankfurt continues to forge ahead with its strategic concentration of profitable events, including the Textiles & Textile Technologies Business Unit. These established events bring together creativity, high-tech, application diversity and expertise. The world’s leading textile companies and driving forces of innovation are expected for one of the first international trade events to be held in Frankfurt following the enforced corona break.
Thus, the summer events in Frankfurt will depict the complete international manufacturing and value chain of the textile and fashion industry whereby progressive and sustainable aspects will be presented and discussed in a more holistic and interdisciplinary way than ever before as we continue our close working relationship with the Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Partnerships. In this connection, the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the United Nations are set to be of particular significance.
Photo Credit :https://www.instagram.com/micam.milano/
#BetterTogether Spring edition closes with just under 30,000 trade visitors
Over the five-day period, a total of 29,468 trade visitors from both Italy and abroad attended the four trade-fairs dedicated to fashion and accessories.
MICAM, the International Footwear Exhibition, MIPEL, the event dedicated to leather goods and fashion accessories, THE ONE MILANO, the Haut-à-Porter Exhibition and HOMI Fashion&Jewels Exhibition, have shown once again that, by joining forces, it is possible to tackle the difficult international situation successfully.
United under the #BetterTogether hashtag and with the support of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) which promotes foreign trade and Italy’s exports, the trade fairs showcased the products of over 1400 brands – the best that each sector has to offer – transforming the fair area into an exceptional business and networking opportunity thanks to this unique shared project.
With a packed programme of seminars and events, the fairs also confirmed that they provide an increasingly important opportunity for exploring subjects of topical interest for their respective business sectors.
These included digitalization, the metaverse and new ways of doing retail, increasingly linked to big data. Particular attention was also paid to sustainability and slow fashion, both on the exhibition level and as subjects for discussion.
Naia from Eastman releases industry loungewear insights
The global pandemic has driven consumer preference for comfortable loungewear, and the latest research conducted by Naia from Eastman proves it is a trend with staying power.
When surveyed, 78% of women in the U.S. and Europe selected comfort as their top priority when selecting loungewear. Other findings show 74% of respondents dressed more casually at home and 66% are also choosing to dress more casually outside of the home.
Consumers also want more comfortable fabrics and more versatile loungewear and will likely purchase more loungewear items in the future. The survey results showed 61% of women investing in more casual clothing, with 44% reducing the amount of formal clothing in their wardrobes. They also prefer more sustainable loungewear with new and different fibers and would like brands to offer more of those options.
The study also highlighted a satisfaction gap among consumers who wanted better loungewear comfort, fit, quality, drape and durability. With Naia, Eastman aims to collaborate with brands to fill this gap and help them enhance the consumer shopping journey.
“Loungewear has become the must-have item in every woman’s closet,” said Ruth Farrell, marketing director of textiles for Eastman. “Our insights aim to help brands understand how today’s consumers define comfort and sustainability with regards to loungewear. With two-thirds of consumers wanting more sustainable options in their loungewear fibers, Naia is perfectly positioned to help our value-chain partners create comfortable, quality, sustainable loungewear that is accessible to all.”
Burberry opens Paris flagship on Rue Saint-Honoré
Burberry has opened the doors of a new Paris flagship – the first freestanding store in the region to feature the luxury label’s new global design concept.
Located in the heart of the luxury design district, the opening continues Burberry’s rich and celebrated history with the French capital – a destination in which Founder, Thomas Burberry, opened his first international store in 1909. Now over 100 years later, the new flagship store offers an opportunity to fully experience the British luxury brand in a unique space that connects Burberry’s past, present and future.
Designed in collaboration with renowned architect Vincenzo de Cotiis, the three-story flagship store sees iconic house codes stylistically reinterpreted and luxuriously realised. Taking inspiration from the evolution of the signature Burberry check, the concept couples mirrored ceilings with intersecting metallic grids and roaming tiled chequerboard floors, each reflecting one another and creating a sense of openness. The core colours of the iconic check – beige, black, white and red – are also explored throughout the store in a variety of textures, from concrete and ceramics to high-gloss finishes, juxtaposing brutalist elements with luxurious materials to create a distinctly modern feel.
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY