How immersive technologies and virtual experiences play a role in fashion and perception of identity

This lecture programme did critically investigate and explore how immersive technologies (VR/AR/MR) are deployed in fashion. Discussed was the promise of virtual fashion to lower the impact on the environmental footprint. One can offer clothes without: material production, waste and pollution and fashion shows without international flights. At the same time one cannot deny the high carbon emissions for using energy in the digital world. 

Next to the green shift, the presentations addressed how emerging digital technologies inform & inspire fashion and the creative freedom it offers. There are for instance no restrictions to (sample) sizes, one can easily shift genders and there are no limitations by gravity or material properties. This means there is enormous freedom to experiment with ‘who you are’, what ‘you want to be’ or ‘what your needs’ are. Virtual fashion allows us to re-imagine our gendred bodies, challenge the boundaries of our human species and expand our understanding of identity.

Virtual Fashion & Virtual Bodies, showcased the work by Beata Wilczek, Nik Gundersen, Sander Veenhof and LabeledBy, best practices of today’s and tomorrow’s most renowned digital (fashion) designers and artists. They took us along their journey and showed us what kind of creative technological applications in virtual fashion have a tangible future and sustainable potential.

Get an impression by third year student Beyza Demirci:
https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18070828153329492/?hl=en

More info:
https://www.wdka.nl/news-events/virtual-fashion-virtual-bodies-immersive-tech-week