January 24, 2022

Digital Fashion Through AR And The Black Stars Leading The Trend

Congolese designer Anifa Mvuemba created a social media firestorm when she gave the world a preview of her collection from her fashion brand, Hanifa, on Instagram Live with a 3D runway presentation. 

The six looks that makeup Mvuemba’s Pink Label Congo collection undulated on-screen as they moved on invisible figures. 3D models “walked” down the screen with garments draped on their three-dimensional curves. 

Anifa had been using 3D mockups for a while to convey ideas to her team during sample-making but she told Teen Vogue that “designing content using 3D models and now an entire collection has been a complete game-changer for me. It actually requires an even greater amount of attention-to-detail for the clothes to fit and look just right.”

The show’s use of 3D models offers a different way for consumers to access clothing. This technology enables customers to experience products virtually from the comfort of their homes. AR can help consumers understand what they’re buying, making it easier to meet customer expectations.

Often the terms Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are used interchangeably.

While they are similar, they are two distinct technologies. Both provide rich visual experiences with 3D high-definition video and audio but the most significant difference between the two is that VR is completely immersive while AR is partly immersive.

Anifa’s work continues to inspire others. Ommy Akhe is one techie that looks to the fashion industry for inspiration. After starting her own small clothing line at 15, Ommy Akhe had to learn the ropes of web development and infrastructure. “I always had an affinity for computing, or anything vaguely technical,” she told Facebook, adding, “It all kind of escalated from there!”

Today, she works as a creative technologist focusing on social AR experiences.

“In an industry that historically has not been representative of all walks of life, it is amazing to see designers and creators of color not only visible but also being extremely influential,” she told Facebook.

Here are the Black Stars using tech in fashion

In 2020, the late Virgil Abloh told Vogue that he was taking a closer look at gaming culture and what it can mean for fashion, particularly as the industry explores digital ways to connect with customers.

Last year he debuted his spring-summer 2021 collection via an immersive digital experience called Imaginary TV.

Abloh said he was inspired to create a globally connected digital event as a television set. Users could flip through the brand’s virtual landscape like channels, each representing a different concept inspired by the collection.

Abloh stated in a press release that “we’re living in a world and at a time that is already largely digitally native. Within the collection itself, I wanted to capture what it is to be human at this very moment. Conundrum is ok, glitches are ok, duality is ok, and a dissolution of norms is ok.”

Doja Cat’s custom high-tech catsuit for her 2020 MTV VMAs performance for the chart-topping singles “Say So” and “Like That” was designed by Asher Levine, who has also worked with Beyonce and Lil Nax to incorporate tech into their fashion and performances.

The futuristic designer is the mastermind behind Lil Nas X’s bodysuit in his viral music video for “Call Me By Your Name” and was behind the “life mask” in “Mine” by Beyoncé featuring Drake,according to his website.

Abbianca Makoni

Abbianca Makoni is a content executive and writer at POCIT! She has years of experience reporting on critical issues affecting diverse communities around the globe.

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