SAN FRANCISCO –
Enwoven has partnered with the BK Style Foundation with CLO sponsored 3D software to introduce a learning platform for emerging fashion designers to access digital creation tools. This show is resulting in a final showing during Brooklyn Fashion Week. The designers’ looks will be minted at NFT and auctioned off for the benefit of them and the BK Style Foundation. This project is set to complement this year’s fashion week theme, “Fashion Metaverse.”
Five emerging designers participated in the project, provided with a 3D curriculum, CLO3D, subscription to Enwoven, mentorship from industry experts, and a stipend to fund their participation.
Designer NFTs will be auctioned on October 11, 2022. More information can be found HERE. Proceeds will go to participating designers and the BK Style Foundation. The auction will coincide with Brooklyn Fashion Week.
Participating designers, nominated by BK Style advisors, include Leilani Bell, Victor Pearlman, Travis Ateyu Dizon, Brandon Wallace and Jose Salazar.
This season’s Brooklyn Fashion Week theme is “Fashion Metaverse”. Over the past two years, fashion and retail brands have increased their investment in Web3, including blockchain authentication, NFT experiences, and phygital/metaverse wearables. While the overall market has been up and down in recent quarters, with some calling for a “Crypto Winter,” it’s clear that trendy Web3 apps are here to stay.
This technological revolution is starting with new methods of creation, including digital designs made in 3D software programs like CLO along with creative lifecycle management tools like Enwoven. Today’s designers are continually required to improve their skills, yet access to these skill enhancement opportunities outside of traditional learning environments is hard to come by. Seeing this gap, Enwoven and the BK Style Foundation began work on “Deconstructing the Metaverse” in February of this year.
The concept is to support designers through education, mentorship and exposure. to provide them with access to 3D design training, support their participation, document their process, and design minting NFTs in support of their collections/physicals.
During the three-month program, students were mentored by industry professionals and experts (Fashion, Tech, and Web3), including Joey Khamis, 3D artist, co-founder of @mlln.io, and program mentor. Khamis’ portion includes work with Kanye West, Reebok and Columbia Sportswear. He had this to say about the future of NFTs: “What excites me about the future of 3D and NFTs is the merging of the 2 technologies within the fashion and design space. 3D tools are becoming very accessible and intuitive, giving more people a way to communicate their ideas more easily. I see NFT and Web3 as very important technology that will allow artists and designers to have more control and ownership of their work.” Khamis had this to say about his participation in the BK Style Foundation project: “It was fun and inspiring to be able to participate. As I spoke with the students, it was promising to see young designers take an interest and gain experience with emerging technologies in the industry.” Other mentors came from Adobe, Fanatics, and Kendo Beauty.
Reflecting on what this partnership means for BK Style, CEO Rick Davy had this to say: “We’re excited to have a partner like Enwoven to support our Web3 community initiatives, supporting our young creatives and taking BK Style Foundation on the future of fashion and design”.
Project participant Lelani Bell, a senior at St. John’s University, had this to say about the opportunity: “I feel like 3D space allows me to experience so much more…have the platform to take those risks that I wouldn’t normally take.” . , like mixing leather with a point, using metallics, it’s great. There is a learning curve, but it’s a good one. Just being able to apply my pattern marking skills to the 3D world and see how they translate has been a great experience. I’ve loved it so far.” Bell went on to provide a sneak peek at her collection, stating, “The collection is inspired by my experience in Europe from a surreal point of view with some nods to Afrofuturism.” Other program participants currently attend high school, FIT, St. Johns and are graduates of Pratt Institute.
One-of-a-kind NFTs will be auctioned on Tuesday, October 11. The auction will open at 12:01 am EST at OpenSea. Each participating designer will offer three separate NFT looks for auction. The NTFs will provide owners with the rights to the design in the metaverse and for display. Each smart contract will benefit the designer with 80% of the proceeds going directly to them, and the rest going to the BK Style Foundation, to underwrite the fulfillment of their programmatic mission (minus gas and minting fees).
About the Metaverse Deconstruction Event
Date: Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Live auction: 12:01 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST
Online presentation page and auction portal: https://bkstyle.enwoven.info/
Designer Bios
travis dizon Travis is an 18-year-old high school senior in Queens, New York. Originally from the Philippines, he aspires to pursue design through higher education at FIT. His desire for fashion in the near future is more efficient management of resources and control of the impact of the industry, since fashion is one of the main polluters in the world. IG: @atreyudizon
lelaini bell Originally from Chicago, Illinois, 21-year-old designer Leilani Bell lives in Queens, New York and attends St. John’s University, where she is earning a bachelor’s degree in Marketing. Leilani’s design philosophy is to design from scratch, from a place of what fashion could be rather than what it should be. In the near future, she plans to get a master’s degree while working in the fashion industry and her brand, PAS DE REGLES. Personal IG: @leilanisbell Brand IG: @pasderegles
Joseph Salazar Jose, a 22-year-old designer based in Brooklyn, NY. Originally from Lima, Peru, Salazar moved to the US in 2018 to study fashion design at Pratt. Her work is heavily inspired by nostalgia and pop culture. He likes to remember the things that inspired him throughout his youth and seeks to incorporate them into his current work. IG: @josemiguelsal https://josesalazar.cargo.site/
Brandon Wallace Originally from Dallas, Texas, 21-year-old designer Brandon Wallace lives in Queens, New York, and currently attends St. John’s University. He plans to open his own clothing store featuring small local designers and brands. He currently runs his own clothing brand, I’ternal Studios, and creative consultancy, Circa 810. IG: @iternal.studios Portfolio: https://whoiisbrandon.tumblr.com
Victor Pearlman Perlman is a 21-year-old FIT student studying menswear design. He moved to New York at age 18 and started working in the garment district. He has extensive experience in multimedia art and is a designer. Victor innovatively uses readily available materials that are normally overlooked or discarded. By drawing attention to the mundane and presenting elements in a polished setting or from a different perspective, he asks viewers to make a meaningful connection. IG: @vpearlman
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About Interwoven
enwoven.com
Enwoven, a New York Times-endorsed tech startup, focuses on Creative Lifecycle Management (™) tracking, preserving and managing product creation workflows from concept to consumer, across physical and digital space.
About BK Style Foundation
https://www.bkstyle.org/
The mission of the BK Style Foundation is to build and unite creative fashion communities. Founded in 2004, the BK Style Foundation (BKSF) is a platform for explosive fashion and creative talent from Brooklyn that partners with national and international collaborators. BKSF’s goal is to help emerging creatives hone their talent and grow their business through educational programs, projects and a platform to highlight their talent, with the production of Brooklyn Fashion Week.
About CLO
https://www.clo3d.com/en/clo
CLO is a 3D fashion design software program that creates a realistic, virtual garment visualization using cutting-edge simulation technologies for the fashion industry.
Source: news.google.com