The evolution of fashion technology has mostly been a physical concept so far. It ranged from mechanical changes like corsets to girdles or textile changes providing a wider range of fabrics like the introduction of vegan leather. But this generation is seeing the rise of digital clothing, a truly puzzling concept.

Digital Fashion is the visual representation of clothing built using computer technologies and 3D software. The reason for even introducing such a concept was mostly brought about by climate change issues. Digital fashion is meant to be a sustainable alternative to fast fashion both in the dressmaking and dress showcasing process. It reduces fabric wastage during the dressmaking process as the prototypes of high-end fashion can now be done digitally. It also reduces the need for people to buy outfits for say one Instagram post.

The population of fashion bloggers and enthusiasts can still get a rendered picture in fast fashion style clothing without having to invest in an over the top outfit that can’t be worn. Such digital fashion also makes “having” luxury items more affordable. Moreover, the outfits are all size-inclusive as mass manufacture of sizing is not required. It also allows people to experiment with avant-garde physics defying fashion that need not be based in reality. The demand for fashion consumption for the sole purpose of digital content creation gets fulfilled by virtual fashion in a less expensive and environmentally friendly way.

Digital Fashion as Assets

This concept wouldn’t be new to people aware of the working of companies like DressX or The fabricant who pioneered this initiative. It is also similar to skins in a video game which many fashion brands like Nike have capitalised on. In a similar sense, many designers have collaborated with such companies to create digital renders of their fashion concepts with the help of augmented reality. It also leads into the space of NFTs where people can interact with their digital assets like wearing their hyper-realistic AR sneakers. But at this point, such technology is still in the early stage of development.

Overall, digital fashion can in no way replace or take over the fashion industry but it can definitely be a positive addition to the market. The endless possibilities of customised futuristic looks also complement the rise of vintage clothing in the meta of the fashion world. But until this feature of augmented reality is finessed, we can continue to explore the works of physical designers.