I have started to think more clearly about the direction of my research and have compiled a Mind Map and Module Plan.
Digital Fashion 101 – Week 2 – The Digital Stage
The second week of the course and again I’ve been really encouraged by the content, it kicks of talking about the stages of fashion and how digital fashion can be used to help transform the industry, with issues raised about increased demands for lower costs, greater volumes and a disregard for human rights.
They provide information on innovative companies that are providing AI technologies to create 3D garment designs from 2D sketches (Eva Engine) and through analyse of image research (Heuritech) and other developments
- 3D printing
- Digitally Focused (unspun)
- Sheima Sika
- Micro Factories
- Video gaming and the potential for the fashion industry
- (1/3 of worlds population are gamers)
- Trading of Virtual Goods makes up 1/2 of the 100billion online gaming market
- Skinvaders – something to research further
There were two interviews from industry leaders Lui Larocheski (DDIGITT) and Julie Pont & Tony Pinville (Heuritech). Lui explained his education and background of running his own menswear fashion brand with a move into creating digital samples before moving to production, he offers a personalized service where the production doesn’t start until the digital version has been purchased a more sustainable business model. He believes that collaborations is a key skill needed for professionals and the industry and that we should deep dive into the latest technologies and keep up to date with any updates. He identifies a problem of material information being limited but is starting to see a vast increase with sites like SWATCH ON. When asked about social media as a means to expressing ourselves he believes that we will have multiple identities and will want to dress differently for the various settings and occasions we will be attending in the Metaverse just like in real life and that we should create garments that help to express ourselves. Heuritech’s Tony Pinville, explain how their software works by using AI to analyse social media images (3million a day) where it can recognise over 2,000 items including shape, colours and textures which can help identify trends, explaining how it can be used as a tool to back up a designers hunch by using data for the end goal. The tech’s intention is to help reduce the production of unwanted garments.
Customer Profile
I have started to compile a customer profile. Along my journey so far I have been really inspired by some of the key woman that I see are helping to shape the digital fashion industry and so I want to consider using them as Muses to help shape the profile. Each of these women are currently showcasing digital fashion and have strong clear opinions and values that I feel meet my ethos, with Evelyn Mora being an advocate for sustainable fashion, running the Helsinki Fashion week with sustainable principles.
Daniel Loftus – Announced that she is working on a site named DRAUP (See Below) this is something to keep in mind and look out for updates.
III. ENTER DRAUP
DRAUP provides the foundation for Digital Fashion to generate maximum value for its creators and consumers.
Initially focused on URL Fashion to be worn direct-to-avatar, DRAUP will advance the future of Digital Fashion through:
- Wearership – providing routes for Digital Fashion to be worn in environments which give it most value through:a. Virtual wardrobes – where Digital Fashion can be optimally showcasedb. In-game partnerships – through which Digital Fashion can be worn during social interaction
- Monetization – enabling Digital Fashion creators and consumers to earn a meaningful income from their Digital Fashion via:a. Marketplace – where both creators and consumers can sell the Digital Fashion they ownb. Earnership Protocols – where designers can programme revenue generation mechanisms into the Digital Fashion they create
IV. LET’S GET TECHNICAL
TLDR;
The DRAUP platform will be made up of a marketplace, where Digital Fashion can be bought, sold, resold, and earned from, and virtual wardrobes through which Digital Fashion can be curated, displayed and ported into off-platform virtual environments.
Creating Digital Twins
To help push my skills in CLO3D I have created digital twins of two garments from my previous physical collection – Abstraction. I drafted the patterns in the 2D and 3D space, using the pen tool to draw directly onto the avatar for the Blue Dress and using a block dress pattern for the Lace Dress. I have paid attention to the fit of the garments to ensure they fit correctly on the avatar. I have really enjoyed creating these garments and it has been a great learning process for my development. I have been able to use photoshop to create the lace pattern and have been altering the look of the avatar by creating new poses and altering some of the hair settings to help create a more creative and styled look.
estellepearce.wordpress.com 