Introducing Arxy Fashion OS, the winner of the Vogue Singapore x BMW Innovation Prize 2025

Building on its vision to celebrate Southeast Asia’s most forward-thinking creators, Vogue Singapore has once again joined forces with luxury automobile manufacturer BMW for the fourth edition of the Vogue Singapore x BMW Innovation Prize. Together with the Vogue Singapore Foundation, the programme continues to spotlight entrepreneurs who harness innovation and creativity to solve real world challenges—mirroring BMW’s ethos of progress, a reflection of the brand’s evolution towards intelligent design and sustainability.

Following a two-day boot camp and four-week mentorship phase, finalists presented their ideas before a VIP jury comprising global leaders at the forefront of design and business. Among them: Bettina von Schlippe, Vogue Singapore’s publisher-at-large; Alexis Bonhomme, founder of Trinity Asia; Natasha Damodaran, Vogue Singapore’s publisher; Rose du Chatellier, senior director of strategic initiatives at Condé Nast; and Oliver Heilmer, head of design BMW compact class, Neue Klasse and BMW M.

The winning title this year went to Arxy Fashion OS, the brainchild of founder Meng Ji, revealed during Vogue Singapore’s Next in Vogue Gala in October. Conceived “from the belief that technology should bring fashion closer to people, not further away”, Arxy is an AI-native immersive ecosystem that bridges creativity and commerce. Within its digital showrooms, brands can showcase their worlds, buyers can discover, and imagination can thrive—“sustainably and intelligently”. In recognition of its achievement, Arxy received a $20,000 monetary prize, a one-year membership at Singapore Fashion Council, and—courtesy of VisitMonaco—a four-night stay at Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo, complete with dinner at the two Michelin-starred Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac.

Here, Ji reflects on Arxy’s mission to build a connected fashion ecosystem, its role in empowering emerging brands, and the future of digital craftsmanship.

What inspired you to start Arxy?
For years, I worked with brands and creators around the world, and I kept seeing the same problem—so much creativity, but such an old system holding it back. That’s why I started Arxy, to build a bridge between imagination and industry. Because I believe the future of fashion isn’t just digital—it’s human and alive in every pixel.

What makes Arxy different from others in this space?
Imagine walking into a world created by a brand—an immersive experience that feels as real and as inspiring as stepping into a wonderland, where you truly understand the DNA and storytelling of that brand. That’s the world Arxy is building—not just a platform, but an ecosystem where AI, creativity and human connection come together seamlessly, yet with full transactional capabilities to streamline wholesale operations. Many tools in this space focus on digital catalogues or website-like ‘virtual showrooms’. But Arxy goes further. We merge immersive environments with intelligent data and real commerce, turning discovery into an experience and transactions into relationships. Under Arxy Fashion OS, we are developing a suite of eight AI-powered tools designed to enhance fashion’s entire B2B workflow, from data processing to predictive intelligence. I think what makes us different is that our technology speaks the language of creativity. It interprets emotion, storytelling and culture, helping brands and retailers truly understand each other. For us, innovation is about how technology can amplify the beauty of human imagination.

How does Arxy work on a day-to-day level?
Every day at Arxy feels like building a bridge between creativity and technology. It often begins with a brand—their vision and their products. Some brands prefer a simple setup—fast, streamlined, ready to go. Others choose from our pre-designed templates and add their own customisation to reflect their identity. And for mature brands, the journey starts with a mood board, where we co-create a fully bespoke virtual environment that captures the essence of their world. From there, everything comes to life: the space, lighting, textures, sounds, culminating in an interactive experience all crafted to express the brand’s DNA and storytelling. Buyers from around the world can explore, interact and even place wholesale orders directly, experiencing the brand in an entirely fresh and memorable way. Today, brands can also benefit from our AI-powered tools like a centralised calendar intelligence system that, with just a few clicks, gives access to key global promotional and sales event schedules six to 12 months ahead, as well as our Smart Linesheet tool, which allows brands to simply drag and drop their files and have all product data automatically processed and uploaded within minutes. Several other AI tools will be developed in the coming months, all with the aim to help brands save time and money so they can focus on what truly matters—their creativity.

How has winning the Vogue × BMW Innovation Prize changed your perspective for Arxy in terms of scale and partnerships?
Winning the Vogue × BMW Innovation Prize has reshaped Arxy in so many positive ways: our strategy, our focus and how we see our role in the industry. It’s also validation that innovation in fashion can come from independent creators who dare to rethink the system. The experience opened new doors, connecting us with visionary partners who share our belief that the future of fashion should be intelligent, immersive and sustainable. Most importantly, it helped us realise that Arxy is setting a new standard for the future of wholesale, where designs, technology and connection truly come together.

Can you share more about the virtual showroom Arxy did with local graduate designers for Next In Vogue?
Working with the local graduate designers for Next in Vogue has been such a rewarding experience. Our senior fashion artist coached the designers through the digitisation workflow, helping them achieve high-fidelity texturing and garment visualisation so their creations could be faithfully represented in the virtual space. The virtual showcase started as a discussion with Vogue Singapore. They shared a set of mood boards and, together with our environment and fashion artists, we developed a mock-up that evolved through close collaboration with the editorial team. The result is a beautiful, watercolour-style surreal environment—like walking inside a painting, with soft clouds moving across the sky and each garment displayed on mannequins as sculptural pieces of art. To complete the experience, a young composer created original ambient music that perfectly complements the atmosphere. It’s a showcase that celebrates imagination—showing how art and technology intersect to give the next generation of designers a stage worthy of their vision.

“Because the future of fashion isn’t about replacing the human touch—it’s about reimagining how deeply we can connect through it.”

BMW is known for marrying form and performance with engineering. In that spirit, how do you think about design and functionality in what Arxy builds?
During the programme, I had the privilege of learning from Renzo Vitale, BMW’s creative director of sound design. His masterclass and mentorship truly inspired me, giving me a whole new perspective on what we’d been missing in our system: the harmony between form and performance. That idea resonated deeply with me because it’s exactly what I’ve been searching for since the beginning. Just like in engineering, our design decisions aren’t only about beauty—they’re about how that beauty performs. Performance is essential to the user experience we create. We’re constantly balancing the highest level of visual fidelity and storytelling with the need to maintain optimal performance, so that every user can feel fully immersed without compromise. Renzo’s words reminded me that technology and art share the same language—both are about the pursuit of perfect balance.

What were some of the challenges you’ve faced along the way and how did you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges has been building something this ambitious as a bootstrapped company. When you don’t have large funding behind you, every decision matters. It forces you to be resourceful and deeply connected to your purpose. Another major challenge has been managing technical complexity and performance, especially as we work with high fidelity 3D environments that need to run smoothly across different devices and network conditions. Finding that balance between visual excellence and accessibility took countless tests, optimisations and late-night problem-solving. There were moments of doubt and trial and error, but we learnt to see challenges as part of the creative process. What kept us going was the belief that we were building something meaningful—something that could reshape the way the fashion industry connects and creates, and nurture young creative talents by giving their emerging brands a fair chance to succeed in this tough industry. And when passion meets determination, even the biggest challenges become chapters of growth.

How do you see Arxy’s work contributing to the wider ecosystem of design and innovation?
I see Arxy as part of a larger movement—one that redefines how creativity, technology and commerce come together. Our work contributes to the wider design and innovation ecosystem by building the digital infrastructure that connects ideas to opportunities. We’re helping designers, brands and institutions embrace a new way of working and if we can continue to create tools and environments that empower creativity and make access to innovation more democratic, then I believe we’re doing something truly meaningful for the future of fashion.

What are some of the lessons you’ve learnt so far in your journey building Arxy?
Looking back, the biggest lesson I’ve learnt is that vision alone isn’t enough, it needs focus, patience and people who believe in it. Building Arxy from the ground up has taught me to balance imagination with discipline, and vision with precision. We’ve learnt to slow down when needed, to refine what truly matters and to always build with intention. And as we move forward, that’s what will continue to shape us—staying curious and sincere, and using technology to make the fashion world more connected and accessible for everyone.

What advice would you give to aspiring innovators that are looking to navigate this space?
My advice would be: don’t wait for the perfect moment or the perfect resources. Start small, stay curious and keep moving forward even when the path isn’t clear. Innovation doesn’t begin with technology; it begins with clarity of purpose—knowing why you’re building something, what problems you’re trying to solve and who it’s for. In the age of AI, we’re witnessing a time when so many things once thought impossible are suddenly within reach. But technology alone isn’t the answer—it’s the people who use it with intention and imagination that make real change happen. As a bootstrapped solo founder, I’ve learnt that focus, adaptability and resilience matter more than resources. There will be challenges, but those challenges shape your story, so surround yourself with people who believe in your vision. The future doesn’t belong to those who wait for permission, it belongs to those brave enough to create it.

Finally, what’s next?
What’s next for Arxy is about growth with purpose. We’re expanding globally, building new partnerships, developing our AI and immersive tools, and setting a new standard for the wholesale industry. But more than scale, it’s about impact—empowering creativity, supporting emerging brands, and shaping a future where innovation and sustainability can truly coexist. We’ve only just begun and the next chapter is about carrying this vision forward—together. Because the future of fashion isn’t about replacing the human touch—it’s about reimagining how deeply we can connect through it.

The November issue of Vogue Singapore—themed ‘Nourish’—is available to pre-order online and on newsstands from 14 November.