Best fashion NFT, Web3 projects from April 2023

This month brought an exciting convergence of fashion, art and technology resulting in a fresh approach to artistic expression that gives audiences a new reality to dive into. In the art world, OONA’s impromptu auction of “BUTTER: I can’t believe it’s not made by a man” participants, while Nina Chanel Abney teamed up with Avant Arte to offer collectors exclusive prints for the Super Cool World Community.

The fashion industry continued to explore phygital avenues, as exemplified by Gucci’s ongoing collaboration with Yuga Labs. At the intersection of these industries, RTFKT and Nike tapped Takashi Murakami for a sneaker collaboration, while Clinique des Champs-Élysées teamed up with RLTY to host a virtual open house in the metaverse promoting women’s intimate health.

With brands finding the sweet spot in merging physical and digital experiences, we wonder what appeals more to consumers – the benefits or the visual innovation. For the art world, however, it is a given that audiences are increasingly turning to virtual experiences and new ways of breathing and appreciating art, with exhibitions often exploring the future of human identity.

Keep scrolling to see our favorite April cyber gatherings and Web3 initiatives.

Somerset House’s Channel presented new work Morphogenic Angels by Keiken.

The guy

Keiken, an interdisciplinary art collective specializing in various forms of art, such as film, installation, VR, AR, performance and game engines, has recently unveiled a new short film on Somerset House’s Channel entitled “Morphogenic Angels”. The futuristic transhuman love story was inspired by Keiken’s new prototype RPG, set in a recreated future a millennium from now. The role-playing simulation enters a future where people have organic morph upgrades that allow them to have transhuman abilities. The film is the latest manifestation of Keiken’s artistic endeavors to investigate the impact of technology on consciousness, using online worlds and augmented realities to experiment with new ways of existing and testing potential futures.

OONA sold butter for 333 ETH.

OONA

At the Proof of People event hosted by Vertical Crypto Art and Refraction, OONA surprised attendees with an impromptu auction of their latest artwork, “BUTTER: I Can’t Believe It’s Not Made by a Man.” The piece sold for 333 ETH, or $706,000 USD, to a single buyer, which is extremely important as it confronts the issue of sexism in the art world, where only 16% of NFTs in the market are made by female artists. OONA’s mission is to raise the value of non-male artists by demanding higher prices for their artwork. As she told Hypebae: “My practice uses performance art and social engineering to question the ways in which we value women’s artwork and influence in the Web3. The spotlight on this particular piece forces a viewer to ask themselves: Are women artists just like butter, an accompaniment to the main course; art made by men?”

The Miami Design District debuted the “Beyond Belief” campaign.

Miami Design District

The Miami Design District (MDD) launched a new animation campaign called “Beyond Belief,” depicting the neighborhood’s visual style as a dynamic world. Featuring hand-drawn illustrations modeled after iconic landmarks, the campaign captures the unique way luxury is woven into a landscape of cultural energy and tropical greenery. The film follows the story of a female avatar who acts as a conduit to experience a world of creativity and inspiration. MDD was transformed into a creative laboratory by Craig Robins and in collaboration with design studio Made Thought and Argentinian animators 2Veinte. The campaign’s name, “Beyond Belief”, evokes Robins’ futuristic vision of MDD another 100 years later.

Nina Chanel Abney collaborated with Avant Arte to offer collectors unique prints for the Super Cool World Community.

Nina Chanel Abney x GODA x Avant Arte

Avant Arte partnered with Nina Chanel Abney and GODA to release the next chapter of her “Super Cool World” NFT project, a collection of 5,080 NFTs to interact with fans and collectors. The PFP-based project was constructed with handmade elements and had similar features seen in Nina’s traditional art, such as cartoon characters, flat planes with bold colors, overlapping shapes, scattered numbers, letters and symbolic objects. The collaboration with Avant Arte marked an exciting new chapter in the project by allowing collectors to order a unique physical print of each of their NFTs to keep in their own homes. Each print is set to come with NFT’s title, a unique stamp designed by the artist and a QR code on the back of the print, which acts as its authentication.

Vellum LA hosted “IPSEITY: Speculative Narratives of Identity In a Re-imagined World”, a solo exhibition for Enrique Agudo

Enrique Agudo/Vellum LA

Vellum LA announced “Ipseity”, the first solo exhibition of new media artist Enrique Agudo, curated by Sinziana Velicescu. The exhibition featured eight stunning works from Agudo’s “Ipseity” series, along with supporting digital costume renderings on Vellum’s state-of-the-art LED Luma Canvas screens. These unique artworks explored modern notions of identity through the depiction of new deities and their environments, presenting allegorical scenes about the human self and our relationship with technology. Inspired by the Pre-Raphaelites, Agudo’s work combines traditional painting with cutting-edge technology to create striking visualizations of our digital realities.

Nostalgia meets futurism in R3N3GADES and DRESSX’s Web3 fashion collaboration.

R3N3GADES x DRESSX

R3N3GADES, a platform championing sustainable awareness and women’s leadership, teamed up with DRESSX to advance its mission to create a more inclusive space in Web3. Their joint collection’s designs evoked a sense of nostalgia for the 2000s Web2 era, while reflecting the rise of the second wave of technology and Web3. “Genesis” included nine pieces, such as headphones, glasses, heels, jewelry and separators, with a color palette inspired by spiritual and futuristic elements. The series prominently featured the color purple, symbolizing spiritual awakening and higher consciousness through the crown chakra, along with silver to convey a sense of futuristic power and armor, which perfectly suited the theme of humanoid robot women.

Gucci and Yuga Labs unveiled the first product of their partnership, the KodaPendant.

Gucci x Yuga Labs

The creators of Gucci and Bored Ape Yacht Club, Yuga Labs, recently announced their long-term collaboration to create an innovative metaverse experience that combines the virtual and real worlds. Shortly after the news, the partners have unveiled their first joint venture, the KodaPendant, a striking Gucci-branded pendant that draws on the rich tapestry of Otherside and Legends of the Mara. This exclusive and limited edition works both as an NFT upgrade with exclusive features for Otherside holders and physical token.

adidas revealed the third and final phase of its “Into the Metaverse” initiative.

adidas

adidas unveiled the third and final phase of its “Into the Metaverse” initiative, which promised to bring wearers to a new level of digital identity. As part of the series, sportswear brand ALTS introduced NFTs, which can be obtained by burning Phase 1 and 2 NFTs, symbolizing the holder’s identity and PFP, paving the way for an interactive story that will end with a big reveal. The first NFT collection, “Into The Metaverse”, brought in a staggering $23 million in December 2021, and provided holders with exclusive merch drops.

RTFKT x Nike released exclusive Air Force 1 collection in collaboration with Takashi Murakami.

RTFKT x Nike x Takashi Murakami

RTFKT and Nike have collaborated with Takashi Murakami to create a collection of ten limited edition RTFKT x Nike Air Force 1 sneakers, inspired by RTFKT’s Clone X anime-inspired avatar project. Each shoe in the collection has never before seen materials and finishes, combining the digital and physical worlds through selling the sneakers as digital collectibles (NFT). The sneakers also come with an RTFKT WM chip for authentication and to connect NFT to NFC. Made with premium materials, the sneakers showcase the exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail of the prints, with limited quantities available for each design.

Clinique des Champs-Élysées teamed up with RLTY to host a virtual open house in the metaverse to promote women’s intimate health.

Clinique des Champs-Élysées x RLTY

Clinique des Champs-Élysées, a leading provider of surgery and aesthetic medicine, organized a virtual open day on April 20 in Metaverse to break taboos and spark conversations around women’s intimate health. A team of experts in gynecology, sexology and surgery presented solutions to treat and restore intimate parts. The event was chaired by Professor Barbara Hersant, a plastic surgery professor at Henri Mondor Hospital, and streamed live in RLTY WORLD, allowing attendees to interact with doctors and explore the clinic’s purpose-built metaverse. The event ended with a presentation of the clinic’s innovative solutions.