Digital shoes are now in demand by customers, who are spending up to $30 for a pair of virtual shoes, in a new metaverse trend. These shoes are available online and can only be ‘worn’ on images and videos.
The metaverse is expanding to incorporate everything that exists physically into the virtual universe, the newest development being virtual footwear.
“THIS ITEM IS 100% DIGITAL. IT IS NOT A PHYSICAL ITEM AND CAN ONLY BE WORN ON A PHOTOGRAPH,” says xrcouture, the site selling the digital footwear.
Virtual clothing is already a popular metaverse fashion trend. Now, along with pieces of clothing that the user can never physically hold, people can also purchase footwear to add to their virtual collection.
“Digital fashion is on demand and it will grow further, because now it’s slowly becoming a new standard for the whole fashion industry. I mean big brands already using digital tools to create real apparel. Fashion shows, magazines and trend forecasters already highlighting some digital fashion designers alongside with classic fashion designers,” Ilyas Darakchiev, founder of the virtual footwear brand, ISDKV, told Arabian Business.
“I would compare the digital fashion phenomenon with the invention of Nylon … It’s something that may be used by everyone, in different ways, for different purposes,” he added.
These elaborately designed sneakers are available for purchase, with most styles ranging from $20-$30, the purchase process is unlike the usual online shopping experience. The customer, after selection of the style and colour of the sneaker, is instructed to upload multiple pictures from which the company will then select the best one to custom-fit the sneakers to, that image will then be sent back to the customer to post on social media.
“Honestly speaking I’m not good businessman, rather I feel like inventor or explorer, or artist. My virtual footwear brand brought me just a bit more than $16,000 since launch. But in the first year it was 0, so I consider this like a success,” said Ilyas Darakchiev.
Developed by the Institute of Sneaker Design and Kicks Variety (ISDKV), the designer of these futuristic shoes, also undertakes various initiatives, one of which featured a shoe with the colours of the Ukrainian flag, the commissions on the sale of the sneaker was pledged to charity. “This is a great example of how awesome it is when people from different countries come together to create.” read the post on Instagram.
“I was working as a regular footwear designer, and I saw some issues of the industry from the inside.” said Ilyas.
“So many great ideas that never been released due to economical reasons … small brands that are gone to nowhere, because nobody have seen them online … Talented designers that can’t start their own brand because the production is too expensive … So, there was more motivation to do something.” Ilyas explained.
While the metaverse is one facet of Web3.0 technology, ISDKV also offers NFTs, another Web3.0 invention, that purchasers can invest in. These limited digital sneaker artwork pieces have an average of seven NFTs available per style, that can be purchased to store in a digital wallet for resale or investment purposes as compared to digitally wearing the shoes to post on social media.
When asked about the benefits of purchasing digital fashion over free social media filters, Ilyas interestingly explained, “I can answer by a counter question. What benefit to buy a piece art? Or buying flowers, games or movies? Or what benefit to support streamers, bloggers and YouTubers by donations?”
“In my mind there are same benefit to buy digital fashion, people are paying for content and for psychological pleasure … It works well with some physical goods as well. We are buying some clothes that never wear, or books that we never read.” he added.
When asked if it is a fad or here to stay, Ilyas said he believes that digital fashion is here to stay, eventually slimming the difference between physical and digital fashion.
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