Welcome back to Now Runway, where we report to you from the frontlines of the digital fashion revolution. We may be the reason Gmoney is being referred to as the “Kim Kardashian of Web3” after a champagne-induced conversation in Paris where this column was born — and we aren’t mad about it.
Here’s what you may have missed this past week — from Ledger’s newest must-have accessory that we are already coveting to Renault’s newest NFT collection, and a cheeky look into AI fashion subverting Renaissance art.
Ledger x Ambush
Ledger, a renowned provider of cryptocurrency hardware wallets reveals its latest collaboration with Ambush, the Tokyo-based fashion brand owned by Yoon and Verbal. The limited-edition AMBUSH x Ledger Case, designed for the Ledger STAX, boasts a sleek and striking water-droplet design crafted from steel, making it the perfect statement accessory for the minimalist crypto holder.
In 2022, Fendi collaborated with Ledger in a first-of-its-kind partnership. They combined Fendi’s iconic style with Ledger’s state-of-the-art security technology to create limited edition cases for their cryptocurrency hardware wallet. The two designs were inspired by Fendi’s iconic Baguette and O’Lock and are crafted from lightweight aluminum, enhanced with a futuristic, high-gloss finish.
Bershka x FFFACE
Bershka, a global fashion retailer, has partnered with Ffface, a renowned XR and Web3 product house, to introduce its first-ever “semi-digital” clothing line, called Wearable Art. Launched in Lisbon, this collection takes a unique approach to digital interaction, enabling customers to enhance their physical garments using Instagram filters created by Ffface.
In an effort to promote sustainability, one physical clothing item may have multiple AR layers that can be updated, eliminating the need to constantly buy new outfits to show off on social media.
Str4ngeThing x Vogue Italia
Artist Str4ngeThing, an AI artist and designer collaborates with Vogue Italia to offer his unique interpretation of Sandro Botticelli’s masterpiece, The Birth of Venus. The artist describes his style as “AI art inspired by the Mandela Effect of Fashion and modern items appearing in the wrong era.” Utilizing generative AI art tools, Str4ngeThing creates conceptual fashion pieces that juxtapose very different periods in history, with an emphasis on sportswear in the Renaissance era.
The Mandela effect refers to a situation in which a large mass of people believe that an event occurred when it did not. The artist’s reimagining of Venus finds her on land that seems to have suffered from decreasing sea levels. The once opulent seashell that was Venus’s throne is now a much smaller castaway shell in the foreground accompanied by a skull. Venus is masked with a silver hooded cape and the word “Vogue” emblazoned on her chest.
Renault
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Renault 5, Renault is launching its second NFT collection, the Racing Shoe5 series. This collection consists of 960 NFTs, with each one tied to a physical limited-edition sneaker.
Inspired by the iconic R5 Turbo models, the five custom-designed styles pay tribute to different flagship R5 Turbo models, while the sixth design honors the R5 Turbo 3E, co-created with the R3NLT web3 community. The physical sneakers will incorporate distinct design elements from the R5 Turbo line, such as a rear slope resembling the car’s chassis, upholstery-inspired interiors, and laces that mimic seatbelts.
Editor’s note: nft now has a financial relationship with Renault. However, advertisers, partners, and investors do not influence our editorial reporting or have any involvement with our reporting processes.
