Vans World’s 100M players on Roblox

AI innovations for ecommerce platforms, Blackpink’s metaverse debut, new phygital shoe drops

Hello hello! Welcome to all our new friends! And to our current friends – thanks for coming back for this week.

This week we are covering…

🏁 Vans World visited by 100M people on Roblox: Why it worked

🫶🏻 Blackpink launches metaverse experience on Roblox

👟 New shoe drops in the metaverse

🔥 Hot links

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We are investing in the metaverse. We want to be where our consumer is. And that's where the younger population is. That's where they want to engage with brands like us.

We've got a partnership with Fortnite. There's some really cool boots that we developed that you can dress your player with, but we’ve actually done a physical version of them as well.

Patrice Louvet, CEO of Ralph Lauren

Vans World visited by 100M people on Roblox: Why it worked [Link]

In July, Vans became the 1st fashion company to reach 100M+ Roblox visitors in Vans Worlds, its virtual skatepark and skate shop.

An early adopter in the metaverse, Vans World enables players to skate with friends, as well as compete in interactive challenges and tricks for points they can spend on customizable outfits and skateboards for their avatars.

Why Vans World works and has successfully tapped into “game-changing potential … as an effective route-to-market and channel for engaging key audiences”:

  • Individual expression is built into skate culture, and Vans has been promoting this creativity in its designs for 50+ years. Roblox has a young, digitally savvy demographic that finds self-expression and community in virtual realms.

  • Roblox data emphasizes in-game customization, like what is provided to players in Vans World: 47% of players say that dressing their avatars allows them to express their individuality, while 43% say it helps them feel good about themselves.

  • Brand collaborations and updates, such as a BMX capability in early 2022 and a recent Gucci collaboration.

Ecommerce platforms taps into AI for the right fit, new efficiencies

  • AI company True Fit deploys its Fashion Genome tool for Shopify to eliminate fit-related issues and help boost consumer loyalty. Going beyond traditional size guides, the platform leverages AI-fueled fit recommendations sourced from millions of shoppers. True Fit’s size and fit recommendations are touted to have earned the trust of 82M active users and thousands of brands and retailers across categories.

  • ZALORA integrates its Platform-as-a-Service with OpenAI, the service TITAN developed to enhance the ecommerce platform’s automation processes, especially in its Search and Discovery feature so it can provide customers with the best possible results. The enhancement is said to reduce customers’ experience of zero search results and improves the experience when they do find results. ZALORA is also slated to launch its Conversational Shopping Assistant later this year for a bot that will assist customers with their shopping concerns.

Blackpink launches metaverse experience on Roblox [Link]

South Korean pop sensation Blackpink is launching Blackpink: The Palace, a virtual fan hub on Roblox, becoming the 1st K-pop group to foster an interactive environment on the platform.

Developed by British studio Karta, the experience will be launched on Aug 25 and will offer fans the opportunity to celebrate the band's music, learn choreography, take photos with avatars, and purchase custom outfits and emotes. Players will be rewarded with Roblox's in-game currency.

Blackpink's foray in Roblox follows other K-pop acts like NCT 127, Stray Kids, and Sunmi, who have previously participated in Roblox events and concerts.

The South Korean government has also shown support for and keen interest in metaverse developments, investing significantly in the area.

New shoe drops in the metaverse

  • Ralph Lauren is launching a limited-edition collectible boot, inspired by Fortnite, for $250. The fashion house is joining Balenciaga, Gucci, and Burberry in venturing into the metaverse to reach younger shoppers. Ralph Lauren CEO Patrice Louvet believes the partnership with Fortnite will show the brand's adaptability.

  • BAPE® and Adidas Originals are teaming up to create a limited-edit sneaker that bridges the gap between the virtual and physical world. This collab, part of the rise of the metaverse and the trend of consumers buying into virtual items, comprises a limited-ed auction to be hosted on Adidas Collect and enabling owners of the digital twin sneakers to redeem a physical pair.

How are fashion NFTs doing in 2023? [Link]

As brands refine their NFT projects, certain trends are emerging and taking root in the first half of 2023, with a particular focus on the physical and tangible aspects:

  • Consumer loyalty: Brands are transitioning from NFTs as marketing to fostering consumer loyalty via programmable NFTs as an alternative to traditional loyalty points, offering greater flexibility in customer engagement and reward.

  • NFC-chipping and connected products: NFTs have become increasingly integrated with physical goods and experiences, providing consumers with personalized and unique interactions. NFC-chipped garments and products further bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds.

  • Ultra-luxury investment: Luxury brands continue to embrace NFTs, targeting wealthy crypto-enthusiasts with exclusive offerings and capitalizing on the desire to stay ahead of the curve.

Reflecting movement in these emerging trends, South Korean metaverse leader Zepeto has partnered with Jump Crypto to create ZTX, an NFT-focused venture. With a $13M seed funding round, ZTX aims to create asset ownership in its 3D space and promote crypto adoption.

Zepeto is already a popular platform with over 400 million users, and is backed by experienced veterans from Apple, Roblox, Epic Games, EA, and more.

The Fabricant launches digital clothing collection featuring AR fashions [Link]

Digital fashion firm The Fabricant has unleashed a new NFT collection, seamlessly merging AR with style.

Named the Wholeland: Primal Rave NFT collection, this cutting-edge ensemble is the pinnacle of The Fabricant's captivating Wholeland fashion journey. Originating with the Wholeland: XXories collection in 2022 and followed by the Wholeland: Kapers collection in 2023, Primal Rave ushers in an era of immersive digital fashion.

Primal Rave combines Dutch 17th-century fashion and 90s rave culture, creating a unique AR fashion experience. Inspired by the mythological journey of 1n0, a Sumerian goddess, the collection fuses various cultural elements into an avant-garde masterpiece. It offers a mix of classic and modern styles with quantities ranging from 150 to 450 and prices from $30 to $70.

🔥 Hot Links

  • US-based fashion supply chain company Trendsi banks on AI to transform the country’s fashion distribution network. (Link)

  • The Bratz x Kylie Collection brings an all-new retail activation, cross-category merchandise, and exciting fan immersion experiences, including a geo-gated AR runway. (Link)

  • From smart fabrics to immersive experiences, here are ways wearables are pushing the boundaries in fashion this year. (Link)

  • Bangladesh apparel makers are said to be planning to pump in a massive $3.5B in new tech even as the $100B export target by 2030 continues to loom large on the horizon. (Link)

  • Web3-savvy Gucci digitally partners with Chinese e-commerce retailer JD.com to boost its presence in the region. (Link)

  • An Israeli startup using AI to guide online shoppers to finding their perfect clothing size is helping a Spanish fashion brand sell and profit more. (Link)

  • The online course Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence in Fashion is a comprehensive one seamlessly merging AI and fashion design. (Link)

  • Startups are greening wardrobes worldwide, from clothing circularity to AI-powered textile defect detection and turning grain waste into leather. (Link)

  • In NFT wearables, here are the top 10 fashion brands leading the charge in merging fashion and the metaverse. (Link)

  • Indian workwear apparel Dennison debuts its brand store in the PARIZ metaverse on Aug 28 for immersive shopping. (Link)

  • The metaverse reduces the use of raw materials such as fabric and dye needed for creating a dress; here, one can access digital avatars instead.(Link)

  • Ralph Lauren CEO Patrice Louvet targets young people in the metaverse, knowing they’re dealing with a world where hoodies can be fair game at the office. (Link)

  • Spanish equestrian-themed fashion brand La Garrocha taps into AI-driven apparel sizing solutions. (Link)

  • The Sustainable Mei Exhibition: Qing Gan Yi Jiu initiated by sustainable fashion platform canU is on display at the Modern Art Museum Shanghai. (Link)

  • AI company SAVANT, armed with proprietary tech in computer vision and machine learning, makes its bid in leading experimental and immersive luxury beauty. (Link)

  • The Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) is set to offer the world’s 1st Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees in sneaker design. (Link)

  • Paris Hilton officially opens Slivingland on Aug. 25 with a virtual concert featuring one of her DJ sets, bridging the gap between reality and the metaverse. (Link)

  • The Super Puma PFP offers tokenized access to exclusive products, a direct link to PUMA’s timeless classics and a range of experiences. (Link)

  • What’s in store at London’s Digital Fashion Week in Sept? (Link)

All content on this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not aim to serve as or replace expert investment advice.

If you are a startup building in the metaverse / web3 ecosystem and are raising capital, please reach out to Sfermion. Sfermion is an investment firm focused on accelerating the emergence of the metaverse.

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