The Problem with Digital Fashion

Uncovering the issues with how we talk about the rise of digital fashion design, the metaverse, and it's impact on the fashion industry.
If you love the channel, support on Patreon: / blissfoster
Follow me on IG: / blissfoster
Follow me on Twitter: / blissfoster
Support the digital fashion designers featured in this video
/ the_fab_ric_ant
/ dressx
/ auro.boros
/ zero10.app
/ barragan
/ elayes.lb

[@giovanadebona]

As a digital fashion designer who graduated from a traditional fashion school, I could not agree more. They are completely different means of art with their own difficulties and set of skills, both extremely hard. Digital and traditional fashion can coexist and collaborate, I think that's the exciting part of the future of the fashion industry.

[@tavernadosbrodi]

As a 3d artist focused on fashion who also sews, I kind of feel like I can say that the processes are not that far apart, if we think about bigger things this will involve more people in the pipeline of a digital project as well as in a real life project, more styles of work, more programs (which, for example, could be the tools used in real life) and so on, so it's kind of a 50/50 between real and digital, of course there are different proposals and I also don't believe that Digital fashion will come to replace common fashion, and besides all this is not the only point of digital a good example is that all clothes I sew in real life I sample them 100% digitally to avoid waste etc so already taking the perfect pattern that I need. And clearly we cannot consider either one or the other a cheap way to make fashion, because in real you have machinery, places and so on, but in digital we also have programs and more programs to be signed/purchased, textures and many other things that will against a final value, apart from the lack of access to it and the elitization, here in Brazil I still believe that I am one of the first to have this access and to be able to live directly from it having come from a disadvantaged place. So its a really long discussion and have infinite points to be solved, but i really loved some points of the video!!

[@garybane]

I live in Sao Paulo. Onde voce mora ?

[@byjanning771]

I‘m doing the same thing and I can just support your points, digital fashion is so close to common fashion because like a seamline also has to be a seamline in digital

[@byjanning771]

what‘s your instagram? I would love to see some stuff from you

[@andreja9425]

might i ask what programs you use to create digital patterns and designs and such? I’m also a designer and would love to start creating digitally too!

[@tavernadosbrodi]

@@andreja9425 i’m using clo3d

[@benm9396]

I’m a pattern cutter and designer, but I also create digitally first using clo3d and blender. Digital fashion isn’t trying to replace the physical. It’s just another tool to create and experiment with. Digital creation allows us to cut down on waste and makes the design process more efficient. Also, it gives designers ways to be more size-inclusive with different avatar bodies. It’s hard to talk about digital fashion as a sellable item. The technology for people to wear digital garments in VR or ar is in its infancy. Give it another 20 years, and we will see a considerable change in how we express ourselves through clothes. The physical will always be there. As we become more attached to virtual reality, self-expression in digital space through fashion will make much more sense.

[@geminisykii]

I feel like it's a trend in the sense that all these industry insiders are (very slowly) realizing that there are other mediums that existed outside. Everyone is talking about the "Metaverse" and "NFTs"/digital art like it's some wild new concept. And it is...for them. For other people like myself, it's called an MMO. FFXIV anybody? These things have existed for decades really, and now it's a combo of the "cool kids" playing catch up and the "nerds/weebs" gaining power and influence. I've introduced designers to new types of inspiration via showing them concept art of videogames or anime and they have fallen down the rabbit hole. One brand I know got sucked into Ergo Proxy and decided to make a collection referencing it. One of the models they shoot with helped run an anime convention. That anime convention is slowly bringing in higher fashion brands doing their own fashion shows, and recently they told me that they sold more setting up a both at the convention for a couple of days than being in a pop up for a whole month. Now, where the biggest problem is what you said. Making clothes for a metaverse is way easier than figuring out how to make them in real life. Production hell is a thing. And what I am finding is that as digital fashion becomes more recognized, clothing is becoming simpler?, due to the restraints of the physical world. Bringing something from a Final Fantasy game to real life takes haute couture level production and would be crazy expensive (or just straight up can't be made because it laughs in the face of physics), so what happens is that these crazy digital designs end up staying in that realm. Which then brings the question, what do we do with them? How do you make it worth while? Would AR be enough?

[@HeatherPropes]

I am 53 and I have been sewing since I was 13. In the 80s it was really exciting and allowed me to express myself because fashion wasn't cheap. Now fashion is cheap and there's nothing I can sow that isn't readily available. Also fabric is hard to maintain. . I'm excited about trying to create digital clothing in blender today the way I was excited about sewing a Vogue pattern back in the 80s.

[@TheFabricantofficial]

You could also make a video called 'The Problem with Physical Fashion'. It'll never fit 9-mins. The points to add to this video 1. digital is not here to replace, but to add value, 2. it's not focused on keeping you warm or covering your body, but to curate your identity and tell your personal story in a unique way 3. the big opportunity is to combat overconsumption by creating a better experience accommodating for that emotion that gives us a sense of satisfaction when we walk out of a store with countless bags of clothes we wear once or never (this topic gets much deeper once we delve into the socio-economic topic, that becomes more about the system we live in).

[@cybrself]

I like the idea of digital fashion introducing a new skill set to the designer's arsenal, and hopefully a career in fashion can come to encompass all those people who create clothing/outfits for non-tactile spaces. Gaming was a great example too, and I think costume/character design would benefit from a fashion-orientated approach and the perspectives of industry-immersed designers.

[@mutholiver7426]

i think its a very interesting phenomenon to state that because many people interact with fashion digitally also means they are connected to digital fashion itself . I mean , sure you enjoy balenciaga digitally, for lack of oppurtunity to expereince it otherwise, but it is rooted in the fact that it exists physically. I enjoy the digital content of balenciaga(insert whatever deisgner you like) because I know it exists in real life, so I watch also behind the scenes, atelier content etc. I guess it depends on your relationship with fashion, but for me any digital fashion content i consume is rooted in the fact that it captures something physically existing

[@odog8x16]

its nice to know its not just my experience that getting a design actually produced is insanely complicated

[@bradleybelocura9115]

I feel like the main problem with digital fashion right now is that its still in its early stages of development. It hasn't really established a solid foundation for it's identity and it's difficult to tell where it fits into fashion, culture or lifestyle in our society. This effect is worsened by NFT's which are also a relatively new concept associated with digital fashion but also sharing some of the previously mentioned problems. I often find it difficult to tell which direction the wind is blowing within the digital fashion world, as there are many different artists with drastically different ideas about what digital fashion is and why it's important/relevant to our society. As a result, bigger brands will try to capitalize on digital fashion as a "trend" by using digital fashion as an extension of the products they sell, while not actually developing the idea of what digital fashion could be. What I mean by this is that things are moving too quickly for the digital fashion community to keep up. We need to let the community and artists continue to redefine their ideas of what digital fashion is and how it can be used in our society before we can start to differentiate digital fashion from fashion. Until that time comes digital fashion will always be seen as a product or an extention of a product. As a digital fashion designer myself, I can tell you that the process of creating digital and real garments are very similar and require the same amount of thought and experimentation in order to flesh out your idea's. When you mention that Zam Barrett creates his garments in the basement of his shop because its difficult to create clothes that are exactly the way you want them, I thought to myself, that's the exact reason why I became a digital fashion designer. I agree with you when you say that an idea is no good until it is on the shelves, but I do not think this applies to digital fashion mainly because you are not limited by real life constraints and you dont have to compromise your creative direction because the factory doesn't do that colour or have those buttons in stock. I would argue that the idea is the most important thing an artist can provide to make their digital designs more valuable as in its current state digital fashion is more art than fashion. The digital garment is just the medium that artists use to express themselves and their idea's, just as people do in real life when they put their outfit's together. I think that all the problem's concerning digital fashion can be fixed if we all gain a better understanding of what digital fashion is and it's potential uses. I don't think that digital fashion will ever replace real fashion. However, there is a lot of work to be done before we can start to view digital fashion as something that can exist independantly of the fashion world.

[@marbarche]

I loved the way you explained the difficulty that comes with creating garments physically, that explanation is exactly why I don’t think digital fashion is coming to end physical fashion, I see it as a tool and, as you said, a new form of art. I feel like fashion is such a broad concept limiting the way we experience it would be a shame. Also, I feel we could take so much inspiration from digital textiles and bring that evolution to real life someday. Loved the video!

[@aldogoegan3091]

Love this

[@undisclosed_eb]

Ever since the Tony Hawk games I’ve loved selecting the exact pieces for my character to wear. Those skate games were my first introduction to fashion or streetwear. I was like: “oh its possible to wear that hat with that shirt and this undershirt and those socks?!” The excitement for making something look incredible from a limited selection was so addictive and it opened doors to other experiments. I was always so specific. If I was scared to try out a new style in real life I would try it out in a video game first (GTA or Skate) and I would grow from there.

[@shreeyapawaskar3116]

That HBA T-shirt has the coolest branding, really in love, soo incredibly cool 😚

[@Gred079]

Digital fashion is now a must for any designer from illustration modeling cad and pattern, it is now required

[@troelsknudsen253]

Absolutely no problem with furthering personal expression and creativity in the digital realm buuuuut the responsibilities of creators and other commercial entities become even more critical to be aware of, since everything is so accelerated. Forcing digital scarcity to drive status and value, and thus earnings, has icky moral implications. ESPECIALLY when so much of it is marketed to kids.

[@asteriapiovra2204]

Bliss acknowledging Fashion Souls made my heart sparkle in joy :'D

[@jacksonbridges8108]

As someone who works in and knows many of the people in digital fashion I think you’re right about a lot of topics. Gaming 100% paved the way not only for digital fashion but for the entire metaverse. The idea of the metaverse is to be an online synchronous experience tailored around the individual. Large servers from gaming helped bring infrastructure for more people to interact in virtual environments. Sims, 2nd Life, and other games planted the seeds for what we now see as the digital fashion industry. There’s no doubt gaming accelerated the entire industry. I appreciated you did not belittle the design process of digital fashion because the process is quite different for various pieces. The work process for augmented reality and entirely digital outfits for avatars is drastically different. However I’d say digital fashion is not intrinsically separate from traditional fashion. Through NFTs you can recognize ownership of a digital fashion piece, and the NFT perks could include access to irl fashion with it. Overall interesting video. I’m always glad to see digital fashion receive more attention.

[@electronclouds8280]

Oh man this is a good video My gut reaction to digital fashion was to be against it. A lot of my interest in fashion comes from the physical craft of constructing garments, and digital fashion just.... didn't quite scratch the same itch. It felt like "oh, of course you can make all these wild crazy designs because it'll never be real, but the /true/ art of fashion is in creating the clothing." I'm proud to say this completely changed my mind. People have been doing digital fashion since we were able to render people on computers. With how prevalent CGI is, it's easy to forget how much work actually goes into digital modeling (and many CGI studios would like you to kindly forget that their animators and riggers are people because it drives down the price of labor!) Recognizing digital fashion as its own artform is essential to making sure that the people who are creating and rendering these designs in the digital work get the recognition that they deserve.

[@juliamondgesicht7140]

New thing I learned: a yet more refined perspective on the creation of material world fashion - the example of this shirt was very impressive. Not so new point but as the core of this video it was presented in a great way: digital fashion is a thing, not inherently good or bad, it's just there, no way around it, it's not easy, it's not cheap, it is as much art as material fashion. Something that came up again and that was mentioned in another video before: the perspective that a lot of people adore Balenciaga but have no real world connection to the brand, ever. Because they may not be able to afford anything. I am one of those people and yes, the idea that Balenciaga for me only exists as a virtual thing for is so fascinating and somehow even validating, that I just love it. Thank youuuuuu for the video!

[@solanareznor8309]

Loved this topic. I might be biased towards digital fashion but one important topic that you didn't mention are the environmental benefits. At least from where I am standing, the way the brand that I work with is implementing this and other brands alike, is at the time of designing and prototyping, they do it digitally and avoid waste, the process is much faster and the creative possibilities are endless. They visualize the product before being made into physical, choose what goes into collection based on that and all the manufacturing work goes towards products that will go to retail. I don't know exactly how digital fashion will be adopted in the future but I am very excited about it.

[@stephaniesnodgrass7186]

Supporting this channel was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! Love learning about fashion and getting your insight

[@sagewaterdragon]

You're the only person I follow who makes videos about fashion and my only "real exposure" to the topic before was conversations about fashion in Square Enix games. That is: I did a lot of reading about Acronym or Roen because of their work designing digital clothing for games like Deus Ex: Mankind Divided or Final Fantasy XV. It's interesting to read about how folks talk about someone like Tetsuya Nomura as a fashion designer - he doesn't have to work under the same limitations as real designers, and a lot of his clothes would be patently impossible in real life, but they still end up influencing a lot of people. I think digital fashion (and character design, etc.) is interesting and worth studying, if we're talking about whether or not something is practical then high fashion is already about six rungs down the ladder from where most people are starting the conversation, but the differences are definitely worth talking about as well. Thanks for the video.

[@tatianacorredor1790]

I never normally comment on videos but this video came at the right time. I’ve been working on a digital fashion blog post for like 2 months and I felt like I had a hard time explaining what I wanted to say. I don’t dislike it or go crazy over it but I do appreciate it. Thank you for putting my actual thoughts into words because the way you feel about digital fashion is exactly how I feel.

[@elmoonfire]

Like most things that have a digital and analog relation, it comes down to when in the process you can make decisions. With most things analog you have to come in with a pretty solid idea of what you're doing, while digital workflows allow you to "find it in the edit". I've learned the relationship in photography, and I wouldn't say one is better than the other but I definitely understand why some people are drawn to one over the other, they're just very different workflows.

[@quetzalcueyat]

I used to play Playstation home and elements had a digital store and had physical release of the clothes in the store. I bought a pair of jeans irl that I bought for my avatar

[@lexy3834]

Another great video! Thank you for this & as an aspiring designer myself, I see digital designs and fall in love with the perceived simplicity but I know technology is only as good as the user. You’ve expanded my horizons once again. I probably still won’t shift my creative process to a digital type because like you said, I enjoy working with & knowing the fabrics but I can appreciate the work/intricacies that go into digital design.

[@easyyeye]

peace n' love from chocolate city. Loved seeing your growth Bliss, keep up the great work.

[@arabellajane3652]

Hi Bliss I love your videos sm. I think digital fashion is and will be a fantastic new creative outlet. It will help to showcase new and exciting creative ideas

[@alinktoana]

The fit and the KH shoutout harmonize so well lmao I’ve always loved fashion in videogames, and grew up with Sims CC and branded content. Do I think digital fashion filters for Instagram and stuff are silly? Yeah. But whenever get a meta/2nd life mmorpg ~virtual life thing with sims 4 quality rendering (aka a good balance between cartoony aesthetic without going over the uncanny valley), we’ll be good to go. I don’t know about purchasing tho, but we all know how the game skin market works. But yeah, overall, I think it’s a matter of rendering. Filters are probably gonna get better in the near future and people could start buying more filters than actual clothes, who knows, but personally character creation/skins/outfit cc is the way to make it cool and not as uncanny. The point you made about digital fashion inspiring and challenging ~analog fashion is also great though. The way cosplayers bend over backwards to sew an animated character outfit is no easy feat. Bringing those techniques to everyday wear would definitely make life cooler ✨

[@raneeshajackson4938]

Interesting take! I love the term “digital fashion” because I didn’t realize how much I already participate into its media. I am a fashion designer who typically drafts and sew my own designs but struggle to fund manufacturing so i find myself keeping illustrationsand I’m currently learning how to digitalize my drawings. I agree that digital does take away from actual craftsmanship which making the garment itself more valuable. It’s just an idea and illusion until it becomes a physical entity.

[@sierra.lynette]

i used to run fashion shows in virtual mtv and vSide. and we’ve all been on imvu lol. and special shout out to the polyvore gworls!

[@giooriani]

Exactly the last part of the video. I'm trying to work as a designer with a made to order business so getting the perfect fit is something i really focus on and the digital part of it ( i don't use 3d programs i just draw on the computer like normal illustrations) helps me visualise the final garment more and also maybe find other ways to push the design more to make them interesting. And also i canturn the illustrations into sellable stuff (I recently joined patreon as well but i' still figuring out how to integrate it to my business and the way and times i work with)

[@paulshutrick6546]

Hi, I'm a fashion student that knows close to nothing about animation or programming but I totally agree with you. In fashion you often have a clue of your upcoming design but you're not creating complete looks or collections from the top of your head. It is about working with the fabrics, listening to the fabrics, experimenting, being open for errors. If you are making an Iris van Herpen dress, it is impossible to visualize the final product. You have to solve your puzzle one piece at the time.

[@meeraprajapati405]

liked this one sm. especially eye-opening was the part where u addressed that sometimes fashion-lovers aren't well off economically and how much digital fashion helps in overcoming it. i strongly agreed with when you said that digital fashion is what is needed. for the crazy, avant-garde (pls excuse the spelling) and over-the-top designs and outfits. i think the time isn't far away when gamers will even be able to design their own digital outfits

[@laurentbebin9159]

well seen ! the comparison between cinema and animation is very enlightening...

[@MrXanadoom]

I see digital fashion as a new channel for distribution of goods. Companies can now use digital engagement to attract markets, where the context of digitalization (see games and social media) has seen people pursue the digital space as a viable career path. However, this is arguable, as with any other type of husiness, how lucrative a business is depends strictly on how smart you work to make it profitable. It's the same story with digital fashion design, and just like you said, it's means to live a fantasy otherwise inaccessible to most. It works on the same need video games came about: we pursue escapism. And of course, neither physical or digital fashion designs are easy. Clothes are an effing hard thing to make. Problem is wuality is 95% of the time compromised because of overarching demand. We're obsessed with new and we can't never get enough of it, as consumers. But at the bottom of the barrel, digital fashion helps monetize a segment of the creative design process that remains uncapitalized or unseen to the wider audience and markets.

[@Thrasher610]

BROOOOO ZAMM BARRETT U PUT ME ON!!! RESPECT!

[@puseletsotsilo]

I really love your channel

[@RobertVicencio]

Great video! Thanks for sharing 👊👊👍👍

[@AustynRich]

Great conversation Bliss. I like Balenciaga’s approach to digital versus the more gaudy or costume adjacent pieces from other designers. That’s why The Simpsons collab was super dope to me because it took a cartoon that only exist through technology and combined both universes.

[@jeanindigo]

Thanks for starting this conversation and creating this platform Bliss! I feel like creating digital garents when I realize I dont have the money and skill to make actual ones. when I have my own ideas of garments they are mainly visions and simple drafts, thanks to the painting lessons I've taken in early stage of my life. Spending money creating fashion seems never able to pay my bills. So one day seeing this trend, i thought maybe I can start by making graments with unity and when it sells well I can cast them into real life. I don't know if I should go to parsons to learn designing and sewing, that requires a lot of time and money and it extends the timespan of waiting to achieve my fashion goals. Maybe when I gained capital by constructing digital garments, I can hire people to help me manifest the visuals. Plus digital versions of garments are of a more direct and obvious way of showing what your clothes looks like in comparison with colorpencil drafts.

[@theloniuspoon]

this videos core argument was so good i subscribed to your channel today, great writing

[@BlissFoster]

Wow thanks so much! If you liked this one, you should check out the Balenciaga Clones video I made 💫💫

[@apurvaniruddh3869]

@@BlissFoster IIIIIII lllloove that video!

[@ntsakomathebula4840]

Im like cool with it all, the main reason i got into fashion is cause 7 year old me was obsessed with how my EA skate and Fifa 08 characters looked. Style over everything in the Digital space ( this is not a metaverse plug).

[@amadeo8070]

I'm an artist working between the digital and the physical and I almost always mock my sculptures up in blender before I purchase my materials. Because I'm making large scale sculptures this saves me heaps of money as I can make a million variations of the same thing in different sizes and styles. Using the digital as a space to freely toy with ideas before you implement them IRL could really benefit designers who are working with smaller budgets and capabilities

[@GameConnoisseur69]

Love your content hope you have a fantastic day :)

[@hmvaa]

loved this, one thing i think is also great to note - digital construction is non destructive

[@pieinside2345]

I hate to be a person commenting on a video I clearly did not watch but I kinda love how you have this opening credit roll for your clothes it's practical and makes me think I'm watching a movie lol

[@ericmitchell133]

Brilliant… I love both digital and analog fashion hehehe…you’re observation of Balenciaga is spot on, I have never thought of it like that. But yeah I am obsessed with many labels from Vivienne Westwood to Balenciaga, existing in my head it’s a feeling, it captures a part of my imagination that is fantasy, wealth, and luxury.. being a young person (aka child) in the 80’s my imagination would be constantly filled with imaginary clothings while one played outside. Wow that’s the first time I have ever written that sentence. I wonder how much luxury branded fashion ends up in land fill… I wonder how many system viruses could be attached to the download of a piece of digital fashion? I love your videos . Yeah Liam

[@catalinacarr1986]

I think we have to accept that 'digital' is another plain of existence almost and its another extension of ourselves, and more specifically our art. At this point we cant live without it in a way and its kind of nice to have access to so many different plains in a way, but more than anything they are different and have their own ways of doing things.

[@h0lyfath3r]

I feel like I can come to appreciate fashion house's and artisan's creations due to them actually physically existing; albeit not in my life. ive always said that some of the best outfits are from things such as games becuase aspects you mentioned such as the ability to have garments fit perfectly and do things that aren't physically obtainable but I think there's a definite divide between digital and physical fashion due to that. I think in our foreseeable future people will always be vastly more connected to the physically obtainable side of fashion becuase its rooted in the world they live in and perceive, giving it more "value" to the consumer. however I do think it could be a vital tool in innovating fashion by allowing a more free medium to try out ideas and concepts with less costs of production. things like the liquid metal pants by heliot emil come to my mind when thinking of items that seem like they're straight out of a video game.

[@tammssgo]

In my opinion digital fashion will only overtake real fashion when we as humans are able to leave our bodies behind and move into the digital world (however this may look or be like). Only from the moment when people can satisfy their basic needs in the digital world, digital fashion will become the fashion we know now - it will then also be exciting to find out how the limits within this area are found out with regard to topics such as innovation, trends, movement, copyright and also payment. At the moment it seems to me that there is an approach to this (desired) dream in several areas such as fashion, art, music, film, gaming, etc - but so far there is no real implementation, since the core 'problem' is the physical limits of our body. And since we continue to exist here on earth, we also want to hold something in our hands that exists and has value to us. It is an interesting time - on the one hand new possible digital worlds are being designed and explored, on the other hand we are experiencing a scarcity of raw materials, of land, of food, of water on our planet. As if humaity wants to expand or overcome our limited existence here on earth, transfer it and thereby let it live on (forever??).

[@iona4393]

ty for clarifying about the hood by air. i really liked the video's thesis point- that the value of made things not being merely in the idea of the thing but in the actualization of the idea in physical form- reflecting on it, i just realized that's literally what clothes are. the perennial allegory of the emperor's new clothes. ive been thinking about that idea a lot over the years. like how digital spaces can never replace actual human interaction and spaces (we've seen from the pandemic)- because it's literally the base of being human- we are physical and need physical realities... it's like the most obvious thing but somehow it takes a long while to arrive back to. digital stuff is awesome and we didnt go from electricity to transistors for nothing... but i feel that one cannot deny the biggest essence of life which is that it is physically real.

[@veronicarossi6740]

Digital fashion is essential for the currents needs of the society we are living in. A sustainable mindset is crucial in the fashion industry. This is the era where a completely new chapter in fashion is starting to be written, as in a similar way happened already 100 years ago. Digital fashion is just a result of the process of people adapting to the actual historical period.

[@bwolff7364]

There's digital music vs live music, digital art vs physical art... I think that the existence of the digital version of art makes art you can experience in person more visceral because you know what it's like to see the simulacra of the thing. When you're experiencing art in person, suddenly you can see the texture of brushstrokes, experience the massiveness of a piece or how tiny it is, in music you get to hear all the harmonics the instrument actually makes instead of the sound being equalized and you can sometimes literally feel the vibrations of sound in your own body. Yet digital art can make the impossible possible. I'm here for all of it because I think digital and live art serve different purposes and both of them are beautiful

[@tripwilderthefirst]

1) Part of what makes IRL fashion valuable is purely the way you appear, whether online or in person, BUT the huge thing digital fashion leaves behind is the way it makes you FEEL, by experiencing the texture of fabrics, the airflow, the interior spaces between fabric and body. I almost dont care how I look in my Ricks, but the world feels and looks different to me when Im all layered up in amazing pieces. 2) Great point about the inevitability of virtual Balenciaga because of the majority of fans only experiencing it from a great distance. Ironic, given that many of Demna's pieces have very specific weights, textures, and shapes that of course can only be appreciated while wearing the garment. 3) Fire fit today w/the HBA and Hamcus necklace! (Off to Patreon to subscribe. Love your work, man!) 🔥🔥🔥👏👏👏

[@felixsosa3949]

One possible interpretation, is that this wouldn't be a conversation if it weren't for NFTs because, really, there is no need for the conversation outside the context NFTs create. Digital design tools have been around since video games were made, and have been adopted by designers (independent and institutional) shortly after. The nuances of digital fashion have already been discussed among members of the community and I don't think there's much more to say about it *as a tool* past what is obvious: you have less constraints. The nuance comes into picture when we bring in NFTs because this now brings *social dynamics* akin to "real" fashion *specifically and uniquely* to digital fashion, in a way that digital fashion has never enjoyed. Now you can "own" digital fashion, making it a revived topic of interest. But, this doesn't mean that digital fashion per se is different, just that it's now able to interface with aspects of real life that, until now, have only been afforded to "real" fashion. All of this is to say: digital fashion is great, "real" fashion is great, and the only new things one can really say about digital fashion in relation to "real" fashion is in the context of this newfound ability to "own" digital fashion (e.g. the new marketplaces for digital fashion, how digital fashion can be used to extend a brand or design's reach, etc.). Not sure I agree with this interpretation myself, but it's one that popped into my head and I'd love someone to comment on :).

[@fifi5196]

0:20 Bliss' megan thee stallion impersonation on point !

[@hnedovlaskamelisa]

thanks for this! :)))

[@garymofoak]

Great video and as someone who works in animated films thankyou for not shitting on our craft :'^). The analogy you made was apt and something we have to fight against on a daily basis.

[@BlissFoster]

Thank you for the work you do! I love animation so much!

[@Emperor_5]

fashion designing reminds me of whiplash, the vision has to be perfect to the tea. whatever it takes

[@AbbySmithVSVEVG]

Interesting. I’ve never even considered digital fashion. Thank you.

[@iwannaseethereceipts]

I think Safa Sahin is a really good example of the relationship between digital/physical fashion. The upcoming Balmain Unicorn model is heavily based on rendered concepts from Safa himself. Digital fashion is the art in its purest form, without the limitations of the human body, but physical fashion can bring some of the magic of that into the physical space, even if logistical compromises have to happen.

[@williamman7304]

I think digital fashion could complement with physical garment or design process. Example implementing barcode scanning system or technology that allow designer to create some "Easter egg" and make the piece more fun in both digital and physic world!

[@nastybudbutt3473]

i like the fact that you called digital and analog fashion are 2 different things. I kinda have the same opinion because i also liked different outfits or "skins" in games or cool/wild outfits in anime or smth like that and it also gave me good memorable feelings and excitement which i have from real fashion design. For me the thing is that actual wearable fashion is more valuable because just of the functionality of it which it gives us. Superficially it gives us warmth. And as you already has shown in your video the fact that zam does all of this things which connects him and others in the real world. Real human connection is something we often miss out or don't perceive consciously imo. On the other hand, digital fashion gives us inspiration, is pushing boundaries and gets a lot of people a cool way to express themselves or/and even money. And the fact for environment, which is a very bad topic for fashion, can be improved with digital pattern making and saving waste. To sum this up, it's like a lot of things in the world. It's like a double-edged sword, if you know how to handle both and how to synergise both of em, it will bring a lot of joy and improvement in both worlds. Cool video dude, i really like your content and your style of recording. Keep up!

[@muhammedabdul-ghaffar8765]

I was expecting a pretentious video, but then you got me at FF and Kingdom Hearts so you get my respect. Digital fashion will be huge for cosplay culture no doubt about that. It will also be fertile ground for shaping cultural tastes in the physical world. What finally made digital fashion click for me was watching the anime Code Geass and how royalty is communicating through clothing.

[@PunkkRatt]

I just can’t help but see the aspect of brands selling you a digital version of that product as anything but a scam unless you physically get the item eventually.

[@julestourniercom2767]

I’m totally agree on the fact that digital fashion, in all its forms is just a traduction, a translation of what fashion, that include craftsmanship, time of production, debates with industry in order to realyse the idea behind the final clothe. In term of craftsmanship, I can’t imagine a digital world where clothes are not just a copy of what we can create with real machines, with a real savoir-faire that is transmitted from generation to generation. And when you says that fashion is about to make-it, to take a lot of time and to be really focused and devoted, I think for exemple about embroidery, where it’s clearly about time and big energy in what you doing. Will the savours-faire die because this transfer will disappear, for the benefit of a creation directly intended for the digital world ?

[@niknack7420]

I too am a gamer and my favorite games are ones that have players collecting items. The ones that have collecting clothing as you play have a special place in my heart. To see them come to life would be possible now seeing how designers are showing creative ways to utilize the web. If this takes off you better belive I would be saving money for square enix digital line! Please be Rsonance of Fate, please... please.

[@pieinside2345]

I work with a lot of tech in my day to day and I really don't understand people's obsession with replacing things with digital variants. like how people will take the first version of any product and be like " this will be the be all end all version of *Insert item/process here*, and you'll never see the old one again", usually with limited insight to how people will use such a thing. like why would people want to replace conventional fashion with digital fashion when (as you so articulately pointed out) they are pretty much different things, capable of existing in their own separate categories? this world domination approach to things seems to be a common mindset in some tech spaces, like it feels like some people think that your idea isn't really groundbreaking unless you become a multi billionaire from it.

[@nemesis4884]

i like the idea of digital fashion pushing physical fashion to greater bounds. you are limited by your imagination and see other people doing things digitally that maybe haven't been tried physically could open a lot of new doors and create a lot of unique new things

[@tommy.n6713]

The elden ring raptor’s set outift😻

[@Petty_Mason]

I want to see the jacket!

[@toaf3402]

i think digital fashion is super cool and such an interesting take on the art form which can be used to express so much, shame so many designers are taking it down the bs nft route tho

[@sarafernandez4920]

I think most people can't conceptualize the idea yet, that what they crave it is to be recognized by the space fashion creates in society, which is not brands themselves but to feel a sense of belonging to the moment or as Heidegger puts it being a daesin ( a being that belongs to its time and space), which it grants in a way trascendence and makes one feel and or be empowered. In a way it's the path for individuation. The problem with 3D, and the metaverse versus irl fashion is one of crushing ralities surrounding the concept of "value". The metaverse and virtual reality values want to take over the symbolic order of reality, and its limits are embodied by the enigma of how fashion works, as not only it is a matter of capitalistic exchange, but also has philosophical, sociological and moral implications. As much as I agree with the lack of understanding from the "techies" that actual fashion has an inherent value from it's mere crafting might be interesting if we considered some hegelian dialectics into the mix about these technologies, excuse my petulism but what if we could actually see further from where we are socially and what changes at large would have to be made in order for these technologies to blossom in the fashion industry? I think thinking about these hypothesis probably would unveil some existing conflicts not only about fashion, but humans, nature and what reality is. Great video btw, much needed.

[@joylox]

I like making costumes, cosplaying as characters from fictional media, often with outfits designed to not exist in real life. It's a fun and creative challenge to figure out how to bring the essence of these outfits to life without it being too expensive or wildly inaccurate. The hardest thing I've come across is actually some of the mesh details seen on Naruto characters. I found a similar fabric, but it won't be the same, and that's okay. I think it's neat when people push the limits of design, and then eventually it might exist. 3D printing has been a big part of cosplay for a while, and when you think about it, it's kind of like a knitting machine that makes hard plastic materials, so there's a lot of potential in the future for different ways of doing stuff. After all, it wasn't that long ago that spandex was invented and it was used a lot in sci-fi as it was this fancy new thing that allowed tight fitting garments that didn't have to be custom tailored or laced up to fit properly. I'm interested to see where some of these designs go, and in a class I took (computer science) one of my friends and I had the idea to make a prototype for an app that would allow people to try on clothes and order customized things in virtual reality. We didn't end up doing that, but it would have some neat applications as well. We were thinking of wedding dresses as those are expensive and important to get right, but it could revolutionize a lot of things. Maybe someday I'll be able to do something similar to join my loves of fashion and tech, but not yet.

[@Orbitinbloom19018]

Bliss ! Can you step out of your comfort zone for a video and maybe do a dissection of a runway, of lets say a very mainstream house like chanel. It would be interesting to see what you’d have to say about a show like that, i feel like the design philosophies between more introspective brands like mm, ro, yy etc etc are so different yet so similair to very “design for the consumer” houses like chanel dior etc etc

[@BlissFoster]

Always looking for suggestions, thank you 💫💫 I did do Dior Haute Couture a while back, really happy with how that episode turned out

[@Orbitinbloom19018]

@@BlissFoster yes i saw that one, it was gorgeous! To be honest as much as im not a fan of maria’s dior i loved that collection so very happy you did ! But a runway show like last chanels library show would be amazing too…thank you regardless for whatever content you put out it teaches me a lot !

[@nathanmarotz8945]

I wish software like Marvelous Designer could make real patterns alongside the digital clothes. As someone who is good at 3d modeling but not so good at traditional pattern making this would help me bridge a creative gap in my toolset. People seem to want to keep the two separate.

[@ytyoungrichnhigh]

mhm. I remember I saw a digital "fashion collection" (clothes crafted using some 3D scale thing on some computer app) and I was generally very disappointed to find out it wasn't a clothing collection from some new underground designer I could save so I could come back to.

[@1ucif3r28]

the necklace is giving hardcorebottom in the 80/90s

[@dominikcunningham9079]

I am a jeweler and I have never seriously used any digital software in my work. I think that, possibly because of the difficulty I have in utilizing such tech, I have a deep apprehension to the use of any cad. I kind of feel this disconnect with real life and the subtleties that can be achieved through real world physicality. I do love the idea of digital fashion being a new frontiers of engagement and research, but I hope it remains a tool and doesn’t come to represent fashion as a whole.

[@seviregis7441]

Artists creating digital fashion are very inventive and creative, and it’s fascinating to see what they come up with. Great to spawn adaptable ideas without pilfering designs. Also a great way to see your own designs come to virtual life before manufacturing them in textiles. But as a social commentary, Wise people will forsake the lure of entering into the digiverse and remain terrestrial. Digital fashion is great to derive ideas from but not to confuse fantasy with reality and become schizophrenic. Some people are actually losing themselves and stepping with heart, mind, and soul into digital dimensions promising progress but delivering terminality and fracturing the mind. This is not something human beings can realistically aspire to and the desire itself is unhealthy, to depart from the real world and enter into a fictitious one. Regardless of how popular such may be, this is the definition of a psychotic break. Don’t abandon the world, make it better. When the world can no longer be made better, and becomes a dying patient, then there is Heaven, an infinite, supernatural, mysterious, magnificent realm where dreams manifest and find fulfillment, even in fashion and art of all good kinds.

[@liamcox9043]

Just made it to the end of the video, and as a Liam, I can confirm that I got spooked

[@BlissFoster]

😂😂

[@hamishprice-rollo9497]

I love this video bliss but I must say that digital fashion is very beneficial to physical fashion. The sampling process of garments takes bloody ages however through the use of digital fashion you can sample garments at a much faster rate and not have to worry about excess waste and once you've completed a garment you print out the pattern peices sew and dress and boom your finished product. s Sounds a lot easier than done 🤣🤣 I hate to say it but I do believe it's the future of fashion design, and this a bold statement but physical pattern drafting will eventually become exclusive and rare as time goes on.

[@BlissFoster]

This is a really helpful point that I hadn’t considered. Thanks so much for putting us on 💫💫

[@virtualgirl4345]

im a 3d artist and i specialize in making 3d clothing and work for small fashion brands and now im transitioning to learning how to make real clothes and i think theyre super different. Not the same at all, I think the digital process can be a helpful tool for creating clothing but i view 3d fashion in a more art way and im not certain whether it can be more than that. For me personally, i started learning 3d to make clothes cuz its hard af to make it in real life lol. So, i think theres alot of hype with 3d fashion but im curious to see how it'll evolve but honestly i think it just depends on whether and how it affects the real fashion world or if it can, in a way thats more than just about making money and marketing.

[@davidshahal4985]

Just watched the video. Totally agree with what was said. However, how much is too much to pay for digital fashion. Only an avatar can wear it. I can see VR helping people to decide how something will look on them.

[@swagjuulking286]

You literally said dark souls ily

[@supertrampmaverick3648]

Fashion is a dynamic concept that is always embedded in a particular moment in time and a particular social context. The industry needs to jettison the idea that a physical product must be ready and waiting for a customer before that customer has even decided that they wanted. Some changes underway is provided by the current decline in the fast fashion sector and corresponding growth in alternative models, including resale, take back, rental & swap. Each of these sectors can be digitized, which allows the building of communities to promote and support these circular friendly model. Are you in or out?

[@aimeeaztec4601]

Digital fashion gives lesser mortals the chance to be part of a real fashion brands exclusive universe otherwise occupied by the rich and famous. But desiring the unobtainable is arguably what millions of people do so whilst digital fashion may give a tiny taste of belonging to Balenciaga, it will never satisfy their need to own a physical piece of the brand. We love what we can’t have and so an offering from digital fashion can never fully satisfy its user and end their impossible grail quests for real pieces. Digital and real fashion are different entities but can happily coexist and be used toward new positive forms of interaction with fashion.

[@chriiis1539]

i love French cuffs

[@zae_2hot]

I like digital fashion personally, it puts a creative Emersion to the designers world without technically being there as a customer or buyer

[@TeaCupCracked]

One concern I have is not directly tied to digital fashion itself, but it's the marketing/application of it... Or the lack there of. When it comes to the "metaverse" (air quotes because there is no such thing as a singular digital reality space yet, all metaverse projects are unaffiliated with each other and run on incompatible software) there is no clear way we can really say it can be applied cross-platform, even though companies are already marketing the idea of digital fashion being "usable" across the digital landscape. Similarly, NFTs or NFT technology is being combined with the idea of digital fashion in some cases (unique sneakers, as mentioned in the video) with promises of these image files somehow plugging into something... But there's no proof any of it will actually happen. I think what we need to really be asking right now is "how can we make digital fashion NOT a rugpull?" or "How can digital fashion creators better communicate the paramotors / limitations of use for their product to give the consumer a realistic understanding of what they are actually buying?"

[@liamjallot7249]

thanks for the shoutout:)

[@JayDeeWifeBoy]

Is there any sort of study on how digital fashion (in movies, video games etc.) changes depending on whatever trends occur in the real world? I feel like the vice versa is inevitable at this point.

[@balenciagahardcoreslave]

U ARE SO RIGHT ABOUT BALENCIAGA

[@cr0wsnest]

Digital fashion: you could never do this IRL Cosplayer: aight bet

[@BlissFoster]

😂😂 it’s true

[@Mayeko]

3D modelling is no joke, I tried learning Z Brush once and compared to 2D digital art, just the various shortcuts you need to learn to use the program efficiently was too much for me to deal with. Though that may not be the case with actual costuming software, I do know there is at least one proper modern program that one can use to drape/design/grade garments. Personally, I'm completely disinterested in digital fashion as something one can have and "own" (scare quotes due to the murky nature of what the limits of purchasing licences for a non-physical product even entails, for example: your Steam library is supposed to go poof when you die, since the licensee is deceased, you cannot resell the games or the account without breaking TOS, but your friends or family COULD keep logging into your account surreptitiously to revisit their loved one's digital memories via save files and achievements) than something you can use to experiment before bringing something into the real world or for publishing for video games as assets in a library or for a specific game. The costume lead on the game Control by Remedy, Heli Salomaa is an actual costumer with an undergrad in Theatre Costume and a Masters in Costume Design that she completed in part while working with Remedy, she did a pretty cool breakdown of her work in a GDC talk called "Integrating a Costume Designer into the Character Pipeline" that I recommend checking out for more info from the front lines of practical digital/physical integration in games, they had a very unique pipeline which involved making samples of the garments seen in the game and fitting them on the actors/models for the characters. Just found the channel last week since diving back into fashion and styling, had my mind blown finding Hamcus over the weekend and made dumb ape noises seeing you wearing a piece of theirs I loved, haha.

[@trekofalltrades]

Hear me out, digital fashion and 3D printing will someday combine and all these fantastic silhouettes and textures might be approachable in a physical setting. I mean put IVH up against any digital fashion house and you would be so impressed with the fact that her products exist outside the digital world, I think as more people learn from pioneers like her, this direction will move the limits of what we know as digital and physical

[@linemonssi4108]

One thing which I do worry about is digital fashion as a financial product which will become more and more inevitable and is already true, to an extent, for physical high fashion. There is something about the fashion industry that always disturbs me a bit, which is the immense wealth disparity between one end and the other of the production. On the one hand some of the most extreme forms of worker exploitation take place in it and on the other hand even if we are extreme display of unobtainable luxury and as you stress several time "exclusivity". But if digital fashion "tokens" rise I think this would create even more extremes. It's also this idea that until now digital fashion has represented a kind of fashion autonomy and even a democratization of fashion because one person can do it with limited resources and can even teach themself (all of that to an extent). I hope if it becomes financialized and more commodified that there will still be corners where it is collaborative and something "normal people" can do.

[@saf1819]

This is not related to the video but i hope you can touch on the South Korean brand Post Archive Fashion (PAF). I would love to see your thoughts on it.

[@ckveinnrono]

I appreciate your point about Balenciaga's digital fashion making otherwise unattainable 'garments' accessible to the masses. Yet I can't help but think that fashion is inextricably linked to tangible materials and textiles, and that digital fashion can never replace physical fashion due to its inherent intangibleness. If you cannot wear the garment, it is not a garment. Your avatar 'wearing' the garment is only a half-measure. To me, digital fashion is no more than a branch of graphic design.

[@BlissFoster]

Oh for sure, absolute agree from me. Like I mentioned later in the video, digital fashion can’t replace literal fashion design 💫💫

[@ckveinnrono]

@@BlissFoster I def came into the video ready for an argument, but you changed my mind on some aspects of digital fashion and its utility. Good stuff!