The Institute of Digital Fashion has been revolutionising the industry since its creation, rethinking what luxury fashion could look like as a digital product. For the first time ever, the IoDF brought digital fashion to the Oscars 95th ceremony, dressing the likes of up and coming Hollywood star Bailey Bass in a URL meets IRL creation.
Inspired by Zac Posen’s designs, the IoDF created a gala dress on CLO, a 3D fashion design software, in collaboration with RCGD (Red Carpet Green Dress) Global. The dress itself comes in a beige colour with a twist detail around the collar and slit-open sleeves that cuff at the wrist. It also features white slightly ruffled cloud-like detailing on its back. The dress was brought to life and worn on the red carpet by the Avatar actress. It was produced by Zac Posen and was made out of Tencel™ Luxe, an innovative silk-resembling material derived from wood-based biodegradable filaments.
With the Oscars being one of the most watched events of the year, the IoDF and RCGD Global wanted to use this opportunity to showcase their three core brand pillars: creativity, innovation and sustainability. This is not the first time the IoDF has taken over red carpets, notably back in 2021 when it took over the British Fashion Awards, becoming the first to present digital garments at a formal event.
With such a big platform, the IoDF and RCGD Global are using up this opportunity to open up the conversation about sustainable fashion through a digital lens. Here, CLO has been used to widen the possibilities of physical fashion through digitised enhancements, pointing the creative and production process towards a more sustainable route. From sampling fabrics to pattern cutting, using a 3D software design allows for minimal waste.
Speaking on the occasion, CEO of IoDF Lean Elliott-Young says “Our mission is to re shape the preconceived notions of sustainability practices, and push that to the next level, we can reduce the carbon footprint of fashion, and also show the beauty that comes from combining art, fashion and technology”. She also goes on to say that by showcasing this digital design at the Oscars, this technology has been put at the forefront of the masses, a great opportunity to kickstart a widespread, much needed conversation about the future of fashion.
Indeed, events such as the Oscars often require designers to create bespoke gowns, or in Hunter Schafer’s case being flown straight from the Parisian runway into L.A., for a use of one night only. Through the works of the IoDF and RCGD Global, the face of fashion could change towards URL designs which create minimum waste and require zero travelling, vastly lowering its carbon footprint as opposed to a typical physical dress.
While it may take time for digital fashion to become the norm at such events, the IoDF has taken a huge leap into the future by helping dress Bailey Bass’ at the Oscars. Opening up the conversation around the future of fashion, notably with a sustainable approach, the question is no longer whether or not digital fashion is the future, but rather how it will present itself as the future of fashion.
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