Find out everything you need to know about 3D fashion design 9 min read

Summary:

• 3D fashion design encompasses the digital realm’s entire contribution to the fashion industry, spanning from virtual fashion shows to immersive experiences within the metaverse.
• A growing trend involves individuals acquiring outfits for use in photo filters, reducing material waste and closet space.
• Audaces Fashion Studio offers a streamlined 3D modeling environment, allowing the creation of entire fashion collections digitally. Experience the Audaces360 multi-solution with a free trial today!

In the early days of gaming, few considered the intersection with the fashion market. However, as computer and graphic design evolved, a dedicated industry emerged – 3D fashion design – serving diverse purposes.

One of the most entertaining aspects is crafting unique and expressive outfits, often referred to as “skins,” for game characters. Yet, the influence of 3D design extends far beyond gaming, finding its place in CGI movies, realistic avatars within the metaverse, and even photo filters crafted by established brands.

While debates persist about whether graphic designers or traditionally trained stylists should lead this creative endeavor, our focus today is solely on the positive aspects, steering clear of controversies.

Join us as we delve into the world of 3D fashion design, exploring various applications and discovering ways to monetize your digital fashion collections, all without utilizing a single inch of fabric. Happy reading!

Who can benefit from 3D fashion design?

The advantages of 3D fashion can be numerous, depending on the interests of those who invest in them. The benefits for the fashion, games, virtual realities, and movie industries might even intersect, but they are not exactly the same.

Costume designers

Action movies, superheroes, and costumes often feature extravagant pieces. However, achieving the desired effects with common fabrics can be challenging. Additionally, there is a notable difference between seeing outfits with the naked eye and viewing them through cameras under studio lights.

In these cases, 3D fashion enables the application of digital clothing pieces in post-production. Grand dresses and armor, for example, are collaboratively crafted by stylists, product designers, and other professionals working as a team!

Gamers

In the gaming world, a character’s clothing is as crucial as any other design element. Fabric type, colors, and details contribute to telling the player avatars’ stories and personalities, influencing the immersion of those playing video games and turning it into an artistic experience.

It’s no wonder Balenciaga ventured into this universe. Recently, the brand collaborated with Fortnite, releasing a game in 2021 solely to promote their new collection, Afterworld: The Age of Tomorrow.

Learn more:  Learn about the processes involved in creating a fashion collection

Virtual Reality and the metaverse

These two topics need to be addressed together because they intersect at several points.

We’re discussing the purchase of 3D fashion items for personal expression, and this can occur in various ways – within a 100% digital environment or blurring the boundaries with the real world.

The former Second Life virtual environment and the current metaverse are virtual realities where people engage in a new layer of society and community. It serves as a space for freedom, embracing diverse body shapes, appearances, and, consequently, styles of clothing.

Far from opting for generic clothing pieces, individuals within these spaces seek to acquire 3D outfits created by renowned brands, unveiling their latest releases in metaverse environments, which encompass events, fashion shows, and virtual storefronts.

Digital clothing enables individuals to purchase clothes in the form of computer files. These act as filters, applicable to photos and videos, without the need for raw materials or consuming closet space. It represents a new sustainable reality for the planet and a fresh perspective on fashion consumerism.

How does 3D fashion design work in everyday life?

3D fashion design brings greater agility and precision to your production, creating clothing pieces and patterns that, when crafted virtually, optimize the overall performance of your work. Consider some examples:

3D fashion design and collections

The process of 3D fashion design can be executed directly on the computer or initially by hand and then scanned. Specialized software for fashion collection creation can propel your company ahead. While there is occasional competition between stylists and 3D designers for project leadership and authorship, the collaboration of both is indispensable for a successful 3D fashion collection.

3D clothing sold as NFT

A sense of exclusivity is something that many people look for in fashion. How many are bothered to arrive at an event and find someone wearing the same clothes? In this case, NFTs bring somehow a sense of ownership.

But it’s also a profitable opportunity for some professionals. Superb designs can greatly increase the NFT value in digital fashion. The commercialization of this type of virtual product tends to get even stronger in the coming years.

Fashion shows in the metaverse

3D fashion shows extend beyond the virtual clothing trade; they offer opportunities to showcase pieces globally with consistent image quality. Leveraging the right technology ensures a more precise fit than a real-life catwalk, captured with high-quality cameras.

Additionally, 3D fashion shows provide greater control over virtual models’ walks, their body types, garment movements, and more, allowing you to present your collection exactly as envisioned, even without human models.

Learn more: What is virtual fashion design and why use it in your clothing business?

3D fashion games

Games are the perfect platforms to launch 3D fashion designs. When the players feel immersed in the role of the protagonist who wears that digital outfit, the quality of the experience is elevated.

The target audience is as diverse as it can be, everything varies according to the brand’s interests. Check out some successful partnerships we can highlight:

• League of Legends + Louis Vuitton;
• Animal Crossing + Marc Jacobs and Valentino;
• Roblox + Gucci;
• Animal Crossing + H&M.

Brands that have already entered the world of 3D fashion design

The 3D fashion market is vast, and new players are emerging all the time. There are brands migrating and others starting from scratch. The democratization of technology often consists of a three-person team, comprising a programmer, a 3D modeler, and a stylist, to launch a successful collection.

Meet 3 major brands that have already joined the digital universe:

The Fabricant

In 2019, the Dutch brand The Fabricant auctioned a 3D model dress that reached US$9,500. This was the brand’s debut in the digital market and sales skyrocketed. But they knew where they were stepping!

A survey carried out by the brand revealed that 9% of people in developed countries buy clothes just to “strike a pose” in photos. This virtual option gives us a more sustainable opportunity to consume fashion.

Pantys

In early 2022, Brazilian brand Pantys announced its entrance into the metaverse and released a collection of NFTs designed for women. Because it is a brand that thinks about solutions for the female audience, it launched lingerie tokens, becoming a pioneer in this endeavor.

The brand does not sell 3D fashion itself, only the NFT of the pieces. But it is a good representation of the blurred boundaries between physical and virtual reality.

All this can cause a bit of confusion for anyone opening a clothing line. After all, do you need to create a virtual brand analogous to your real-life one? Should you launch a digital-only brand? Or maybe it is better to mix it up? What is the extent of the border?

Learn more:  Cloud computing: what it is and how its technologies help in the making of clothes

Renner

Another Brazilian company, Renner announced in early 2022 that it was studying technological tools to launch its first 100% digital capsule collection.

The pieces can be purchased at a physical store and customized for virtual reality, where it’s possible to view the item in 360º and check the fit on digital mannequins.

What are the challenges of 3D fashion design?

The democratization of 3D fashion design is the biggest challenge now. In Brazil, for example, there are still 35.5 million people without access to the internet. And among those who do, how many have equipment capable of running all the 3D graphics accurately?

In fact, it’s not in 3D fashion design that we face this problem: it’s in the entire technology. But the future is promising!

Can 3D fashion design be considered sustainable?

Yes! With 3D fashion design, you can create clothing pieces, without limits for using resources and without harming nature. It just depends on electricity, a good computer, and an internet connection.

How to create your 3D fashion collection with Audaces?

Audaces360 is a multi-solution for the fashion market. It brings an innovative and complete concept that integrates several creative steps, bringing more agility to the creation process of your collection.

To optimize time, save resources, and generate better results, Audaces360 is the platform your company needs! Be assertive, overcome challenges, and reach your goals with us.

Audaces Fashion Studio

If you think about creating models and putting outfits together completely online, it is more than possible nowadays!

Audaces Fashion Studio was developed to improve creation processes, besides speeding up and generating instant model approvals.

Technology brings modern tools that provide freedom to work and explore ideas in a 3D environment. And despite being something disruptive, we assure you it is very easy to use!

One of the activities that become much more practical with Audaces Fashion Studio is the simulation of different fits, textures, and materials, even before buying them. And, of course, you can also try the movement of the pieces on hyper-realistic avatars!

Finally, approve your 3D fashion designs directly from the computer, without spending on raw materials or logistics. It is a great saving of time, money, material, and work!

Audaces 3D

Tight deadlines, problems with creations, and reworks when making your pieces? Audaces 3D is your company’s perfect ally to end product development issues.

With Audaces 3D, pattern makers and technical development professionals can:

• Approve drawings and patterns;
• Confirm the fit and wearability of the garments;
• Approve the first prototype 100% digitally;
• Decrease clothing samples;
• Save time and costs for prototyping;
• Generate more sustainable processes;
• Render images for Marketing and Sales teams;
• View the pieces in a virtual fitting room.

Want to see everything Audaces can do for your 3D fashion collection? Then download our free e-book right now:

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