Welcome back to Now Runway, where we report from the front lines of the digital fashion and luxury revolution. Today you’ll find us in London, where the temperature has just hit 81 degrees Fahrenheit, and suddenly the wardrobe we packed for our European summer makes sense.
We love that so much is happening in digital fashion that sometimes we miss things like the Teletubbies create a digital fashion collection Second Life. Read on to see what happened this week, inclusive perfect corporation. launch of AI fashion styling and ZepetoAsia’s largest metaverse, expanding into the Gen Z market.
Teletubbies
Wild Brainthe children’s content company behind beloved British TV characters Teletubbies, has cooperated with House of Blueberry to design a range of virtual clothing items for their Second Life fan base. House of Blueberry is a fashion house in the metaverse, enabling self-expression through digital wearables.
The 130+ piece collection features four unique designs influenced by the Teletubbies’ vibrant aesthetics and lively antics. Each ensemble includes a matching headpiece that mirrors the Teletubbies’ antenna and custom animation that replicates their signature dance moves. This collaboration aligns with House of Blueberry’s commitment to promoting self-expression through digital collections in the metaverse.
The Teletubbies, who made their BBC debut in 1997, are four distinctively colored characters named after the television screens on their bellies. They communicate in a playful gibberish and explore the whimsical world of Teletubbyland. The show has achieved worldwide success, winning numerous awards and selling over one million copies of its theme song.
The collection can be purchased from Second Life’s marketplace, where users can browse and purchase digital items for their avatars. The outfits are compatible with most avatar bodies and offer customization options for colors and textures. The launch event took place at the House of Blueberry primary store in Second Life. Contestants had the opportunity to interact with the Teletubbies’ avatars, take photos, and enjoy live music and giveaways.
Melissa Goodrich, Director of Brand Management at WildBrain, shared in a press release, “We are so excited to partner with House of Blueberry to take the Teletubbies further into the metaverse! The playfulness of the franchise and its appeal to both kids and kids at heart has lent itself to licensing our partners to play in the fashion world.
perfect corporation
Perfect Corp., a leader in providing augmented reality and artificial intelligence solutions to the beauty and fashion technology industries, announced the launch of an AI Fashion feature on their highly popular YouCam Makeup app. The AI Fashion tool uses generative AI to provide users with a bespoke digital fashion stylist, transforming the way users experiment with clothes, hairstyles and makeup through AI-created images that showcase a variety of fashion provide looks and styles.
This feature uses advanced AI to allow users to change their style and create virtual makeovers and style looks with just a few clicks. With only a personal device, users can now experiment with endless fashion options by downloading the app from the Apple Store.
“The introduction of our AI Fashion feature marks an important milestone in the evolution of YouCam Makeup,” Perfect Corp. founder and CEO Alice Chang shared in a press release.
“We are excited to provide our users with a transformative fashion styling experience that seamlessly merges technology and fashion, enabling them to discover, create and express their personal style like never before. With the power of AI, users can unleash their creativity, redefine their image and bring their wildest fashion dreams to life.”
Zepeto
ZepetoAsia’s largest metaverse platform, owned by Korean tech powerhouse Naver, is carving out its niche as an online hub for brands looking to partner with Gen Z.
The platform, which allows users to design 3D digital avatars and navigate virtual universes, has forged alliances with leading fashion and beauty brands as a key aspect of its international growth plan. Zepeto has more than 400 million users, with a regional distribution of 65 percent from Asia Pacific, 15 percent from Europe and 15 percent from the US, the fastest growing market.
Brands like Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Bulgarian, Christian LouboutinAmy, Nike, Adidas, dior beauty, Nars cosmeticsAnd Kiehl’s have felt their presence on Zepeto. Furthermore, celebrities such as K-pop sensation Black pink and actress Selena Gomez have used Zepeto to create digital brand experiences.
Zepeto’s emphasis on K-pop and stylish avatars has attracted a predominantly young, mostly female audience. From April 2020 to June 2023, more than 2.5 billion items were sold on Zepeto.
Brands have the flexibility to work with Zepeto’s in-house design team or platform makers, depending on their level of involvement, to conceive and execute a product or experience from concept to completion.