The second edition of the Metaverse Fashion Week (MVFW) once again attracts with a large number of participating luxury brands and events in the digital world. Developed by open-world platform Decentraland and NFT marketplace UNXD, this year’s edition of the event expands on its concept. Because the upcoming Metaverse Fashion Week is to be spread over several Metaverses in cooperation with the platforms Spatial and Over.
The MVFW, which will take place from March 28th to 31st, 2023, has the motto “Future Heritage” and focuses on the leading designers of the virtual fashion industry. The connection between innovation and tradition should also be emphasized. Many luxury fashion houses are returning to the event, while others, both established and emerging, will be attending fashion week for the first time.
Of particular note in this regard is a virtual space dedicated to the late fashion designer Vivienne Westwood. Titled Dear Vivienne, the digital design community will pay homage to the British designer with an immersive installation inspired by her punk fashion designs.
Like last year, Decentraland’s UNXD Luxury Fashion District will host virtual storefronts for various brands. Dolce & Gabbana, Tommy Hilfiger, Dundas and DKNY are among the experienced participants in this area, each using their own space with exhibitions, digital product presentations or art galleries. Miami Fashion Week is also back with its ‘L’Atelier’, introduced at the last edition, which will host panel discussions and catwalk shows. Also returning are MetaTokyo, which will feature Japanese-inspired digital designers, and Cash Labs Gallery, which will feature exhibitions from Nick Knight/ShowStudio and The Wall Group.
Digital fashion hub Threedium will also be open like last year, this time with stores from Pinko, PwC and Clarks opening a Clarks Arcade where visitors can play branded video games.
Luxury brands and up-and-coming designers come together
One of the dates taking place at different locations throughout the week is also an event by the sporting goods company Adidas, which is present at MVFW for the first time. It shows his first digital collection. Coach is also a newcomer to the virtual arena of MVFW, which will be present at the newly created Fashion Plaza for emerging digital fashion opportunities. The Diesel brand has partnered with Hape to host an interactive virtual party.
In this issue, MVFW aims to strengthen the Decentraland community through partnerships with renowned fashion houses. DressX will showcase a selection of 3D fashion brands in a flagship store, while The Fabricant will bring two creatives to the event and showcase its first custom emote.
Phygicode plans to showcase a dress made in collaboration with the platform’s community developers, an initiative similar to that of House of Web3, which will also feature collections designed by its own community.
Another part of this year’s MVFW are educational initiatives and competitions created to help designers and visitors enter the world of the Metaverse. Augmented reality (AR) platform Over has partnered with Decentraland to host a wearable design competition, with winners being showcased on a hybrid catwalk at an event in Milan. The annual Fashion Future Awards will focus on Chinese designers and Vogue Singapore will hold a digital fashion competition. The Institute of Digital Fashion will also be present and will present a label pointing out the unsustainable consumption of physical fashion.
“This year we are very honored to continue the legacy of MVFW,” said Giovanna Graziosi Casimiro, Director of MVFW. “We are seeing the return of many luxury fashion houses and the growth and elevating of the reputation of digital fashion. We look forward to featuring some of the world’s top fashion experts exploring the future of fashion and what it can mean for their communities.”
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This article was published on FashionUnited.uk. Translation and editing: Barbara Russ