Vogue Conversations: What is the value of fashion NFTs?
25 August 2021
To commemorate the launch of its September issue, Vogue Singapore hosted a panel with experts from various disciplines to discuss how the metaverse has impacted the fashion industry, the value of fashion NFTs and more
Vogue Singapore’s September 2021 issue is a true testament to the global theme uniting all 27 editions of Vogue, ‘New Beginnings’. The print cover hitting newsstands on 25 August is in fact a gateway to the actual covers: two digital covers that can be purchased as NFTs (aka non-fungible tokens). To mark the occasion, Vogue Singapore hosted its sophomore Vogue Conversations conference to further the discussion on the intersection of fashion, technology and innovation—one that was started with the first Vogue Conversations, which marked its launch—as well as understanding NFTs and what this means for fashion.
Hosted by Maghan McDowell, senior innovation editor at Vogue Business, the panel brought together experts from various disciplines: Andy Ku, CEO and founder at gaming platform Altava; Amber Slooten, co-founder and creative director at The Fabricant; Benjamin Tsai, president at Wave Financial; and Norman Tan, editor-in-chief of Vogue Singapore.
Read on for a round-up of the key takeaways from each panelist, including their takes on how the metaverse has impacted the fashion industry and the value of a fashion NFT.
Amber Slooten, co-founder and creative director of The Fabricant
Widely recognised as the first digital couture house, The Fabricant worked with Singapore avatar artist Shavonne Wong on one of Vogue Singapore’s two NFT covers. Slooten spoke about their cover collaboration, the inspiration behind the cover and why it is an important milestone for digital designers.
As the creator of ‘Iridescence’, the world’s first NFT garment, she was well-placed to explain what exactly is a fashion NFT, and how it differs from other types of digital fashion.
Andy Ku, CEO and founder of Altava
Besides the NFT covers, Vogue Singapore’s September issue also revealed another exciting collaboration: a Vogue Singapore-exclusive NFT garment, a ‘Flame Dress’ designed by Olivier Rousteing from Balmain in partnership with gaming and virtual commerce company for fashion, Altava. Besides owning the 3D animation of the Balmain ‘Flame Dress’, purchasing the Balmain NFT also means your avatar in Altava will be able to don the dress in the virtual world.
Ku, Altava’s CEO and founder, touched on the company’s previous projects with Balmain, including a virtual showroom when the pandemic first hit. And while that was a B2B initiative, he observed the market has matured since then. Brands are now embracing the metaverse and NFTs, which have become more mainstream.
He also shared about what are the ingredients for a fashion NFT that make it attractive to buyers as well as brands, and how fashion NFTs will be used in the near future.
Benjamin Tsai, president of Wave Financial
With Wave Financial launching an NFT Fund, Tsai talked about the explosion of interest in NFTs when it comes to the art world in particular, and how it is being driven by a new group of collectors and investors of a younger age, who are affluent from making money in the cryptospace. An expert in blockchain technology and digital assets, he elaborated on the valuation of assets, and how fashion NFTs will be valued in terms of their function, “disruptability”, and ability to tap into the inherent social needs of users.
Norman Tan, editor-in-chief of Vogue Singapore
This is Vogue Singapore’s first-ever September Issue. Tan shared why he dedicated the iconic issue to NFTs and the intention behind the decision. “Historically, the print cover is very important. We create digital covers and they’re seen as a little bit less prestigious. For this September issue, we’ve actually reversed that thinking,” he said.
With the upcoming issue available as of 25 August, Vogue Singapore takes the bold step into the metaverse by working with local and international digital artists—the protagonists driving the new creative renaissance born out of NFTs—to launch a Vogue Singapore September NFT collection that will be available for auction on the Binance NFT marketplace starting from 25 September, in collaboration with Brytehall—a premium NFT platform developed by Media Publishares in partnership with VIDY and Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.
Own a part of fashion and art history
The September issue of Vogue Singapore is a special NFT issue that explores the new creative renaissance born out of technology.
There are a total of 15 NFTs created exclusively for Vogue Singapore in the September issue—as part of the Vogue Singapore September NFT collection, which will be available for auction on the Binance NFT marketplace starting from 20 September at 8PM SGT till 25 September 8PM SGT.
The auction is in collaboration with Brytehall—a premium NFT platform developed by Media Publishares in partnership with VIDY and Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.
Enter the metaverse: Visit the Vogue Singapore ‘New Beginnings’ microsite
Vogue NFT Covers: Discover the two digital-only September covers for Vogue Singapore inspired by the global theme of ‘New Beginnings’
Fashion NFTs: Explore the ‘flame dress’ designed exclusively for Vogue Singapore by Olivier Rousteing from Balmain
Beauty NFTs: See the surreal artwork created for Vogue Singapore by make-up artist Dain Yoon
Design NFTs: Witness the eternal flowering vase for Vogue Singapore by Singapore-Italian design studio Lanzavecchia + Wai