The project was developed to celebrate emerging digital fashion creator talent, shining a spotlight on their work within the digital community and showcasing their creations in augmented reality.
We asked the winning creators who got a chance to show their designs in augmented reality in the ZERO10 app along with a nice cash prize to tell us more about their works, 3D designs, digital fashion, and creativity.
1st place
Fashion Designer and NFT Artist IZY (@Zarina_IZY)
Impulse dress
In your own words can you please explain your brand DNA?
IZY Studio brand DNA is simple: to create the most luxurious and sophisticated products that are an homage to the body. We love to seek out what’s new in the world of technology, but we also appreciate the timelessness of good design, which is why our garments are both creative and functional.
What do you seek to add to the world through your creations?
I seek to add to the world through my creations a sense of inclusivity. I believe that the best way to do this is by showing the world how beautiful and diverse we all are. We should all be able to express ourselves in ways that make us feel comfortable, and I hope my designs can help you do just that.
What are your feelings about fashion’s role and responsibility in shaping culture?
Fashion is a cultural phenomenon that has the power to shape our lives and the world around us. It’s a way for us to express ourselves, and it allows us to share our passions with others. It can also be used as an instrument of oppression, but I believe that when fashion is used in a positive way, it can help us connect with one another and make our world a magnificent place.
Do you think the fashion establishment helps or hinders creative progress? Where can the system improve?
I remember my doubts in art college if I should listen to my professors and follow all rules of academic education or if I should find the courage to expand my creativity. The answer might seem obvious, visionaries would bet everything on authenticity and pragmatic minds, as my professors had, would ensure that without rules we won’t grow in quality. Both are correct answers and I felt pressured. However, 3D solves this issue- any imaginary product can exist!
Within the industry, the biggest problem is that it’s too focused on making money and not on creating something new and innovative. I believe that there are ways for the system to improve, such as by being more open and transparent about what they’re doing, and by providing more opportunities for designers who have not yet had their chance to shine. With my brand, I want to provide possibilities to every single person who truly dreams to join the IZY family.
What has been the most surprising part of your job that you didn’t expect when you first began?
I don’t really remember, it’s been a decade since I started my brand. But from the point when we had a shift to virtual cloth, I was very surprised to find out that even the best creators have a willingness to work for other brands. Some of us came to the digital field to become pioneering brands, while others came to build their craft as artisans, but we are all united by seeking innovative and exciting new technology.
Can you tell us about your personal style and how you choose to dress yourself?
I live in Italy, where fashion is the most advanced but yesterday a man in a crop top judged me for wearing mules. I don’t know which of the two of us evoked more emotion in the public. But perhaps, I can describe my style as nonconformist. I like to keep things simple and easy, but with a twist. I also like to make sure that my outfit has a story behind it, which is why I love wearing mules. They’re so vintage, yet they’re also something that you can wear every day! I’d describe my style as “easy-to-wear.” My favorite daily outfit would consist of an amazing pair of silk shoes, an easy-to-wear dress with fluffy sleeves, and an XS edgy leather bag.
2d place
3D Artist Dinara Garaeva (@Whynoen)
Biomorphic dress
In your own words can you please explain your brand DNA?
I am still building my brand DNA, but it’ll be definitely based on the main features such as organic natural forms, and futuristic concept.
What do you seek to add to the world through your creations?
Perhaps it’s not clear enough but I would love to bring into this world attention to nature and its creations through my works. I just started learning more about plants and I am surprised by how shapes created by nature could be so symmetric. I try to bring this purity of forms into my designs.
What are your feelings about fashion’s role and responsibility in shaping culture?
Fashion has a great influence on people and culture in general. In my opinion fashion in its traditional way limits true desires and a persons’ tastes. Even though fashion is cyclical, we can now see a new developmental stage – digital fashion. I think when digital fashion becomes a part of our everyday life, people will express themselves in a more creative and bold way and fashion trends won’t set any limits.
Do you think the fashion establishment helps or hinders creative progress? Where can the system improve?
I think it limits creativity and industry development. Millions of people and consumers follow fashion brands that, with all due respect, are very conservative in terms of designs and their collections, even though some of those same brands have entered the digital world and participated in metaverse fashion week. Still, I think there are so many talented creators and emerging designers with unique collections that remain unnoticed because of traditional fashion rules. Changing or improving this system is quite hard, especially for small brands or independent creators. It’d give so many opportunities for small brands if big companies supported them and created foundations or institutions like the Sarabande foundation.
What has been the most surprising part of your job that you didn’t expect when you first began?
I didn’t expect that I would want to quit my job and leave my architecture position that I’ve been working hard to get – 6 years of study and 2 years of working experience. The most surprising thing is that I fell in love with 3D even with my conservative architectural background. Everything is possible within the digital world. Every day I find inspiration in other designers’ amazing works and that motivates me to learn and explore it more.
Can you tell us about your personal style and how you choose to dress yourself?
I would describe my clothing style as very minimalist and simple. The most basic part of my wardrobe is black pants suit. It’s amazing that it’s opposite to my 3D designs where I use sinuous forms for creating digital items. I think this part is somewhere deep inside of me, although it is fully revealed within the 3D space, it still remains hidden from the physical world.
3d place
Digital Creator and NFT Artist Spacekkabbi and Popopo.archive (@popopo.archive)
Cosmic Warrior military jacket “Yearzero”
In your own words can you please explain your brand DNA?
YEARZERO is a fashion collective initiated by SpaceKKabbi and popopo.archive which practices digital fashion that is inspired by Y2K futurism and a retro sci-fi mood. We at YEARZERO reflect unlimited imagination through digital fashion yet consider wearability.
What do you seek to add to the world through your creations?
We think the biggest contribution to fashion creation is inspiration and imagination to the world. In this idea, as creators, we aim to reflect 100% or more of our creativity via digital fashion practices which will give a more pure and raw inspiration to the world.
What are your feelings about fashion’s role and responsibility in shaping culture?
We think fashion is becoming more about the expression of imagery rather than garments and brands, nowadays. The role and responsibility of fashion are not about what we wear anymore. Therefore, we think it is more about the craft of how each person builds their own identity.
Do you think the fashion establishment helps or hinders creative progress? Where can the system improve?
We think it slightly helps more than hinders. But still, fashion is too bound to capitalism which limits creativity.
What has been the most surprising part of your job that you didn’t expect when you first began?
When we started collaborating with 2 designers, we didn’t predict what would happen in the future. Moreover, when it all came together in the ZERO10 app and we watched people try it, that also amazed us. So, the result we made via ZERO10 is the most surprising part of our work now.
Can you tell us about your personal style and how you choose to dress yourself?
Casual with a small twist and point.
