Through animation programs and visual effects, international brands are creating virtual clothes, which can end the practice of buying a physical piece just to pose for photos, something very common among bloggers and celebrities. In the next lines, understand what virtual clothes are and how they can revolutionize the fashion industry. What are virtual clothes and how do these pieces work? A new trend in the world of fashion and the Internet, virtual clothes are garments digitally inserted in photographs. Customers purchase clothing online and, after purchase, send a photo that will be manipulated and edited virtually using visual effects tools and animation software. In this way, the clothes are inserted in the images. The purchased part is not physically sent, the only access to it is through its inclusion in the photographs. It is possible to purchase parts on the websites of the manufacturer brands. Each has a limited number of times that it can be sold, to simulate the access that these clothes would have if sold physically. Only a few pieces are produced, since they are made by exclusive brands. Some companies are also using virtual clothing as a kind of test, so that consumers have the opportunity to visualize how the clothing would look on their body and, thus, decide whether to buy it or not. Which brands are already selling? So far, few brands are implementing virtual clothing in their catalog. One of the pioneers in selling this type of product was the Scandinavian “Carlings”. The clothes produced virtually by the brand have no gender and size, their format is digitally adapted for each photo, in addition, they are limited and exclusive, with only about 12 pieces sold. Another manufacturer present in the digital area is the German “The Fabricant”, specialized in the rendering and creation of clothes in 3D. The English fashion company “Hot Second” has created an exchange network, in which visitors to the physical store donate clothing that is no longer used in exchange for access to digital clothing. The clothes offered in its online catalog are pieces produced by the brands Carling and The Fabricant. What is the average price? The first digital piece produced by Carlings in 2018, called “neo-ex”, cost between € 10 and € 30 (about R $ 56 and R $ 168, in direct conversion). Currently, the brand’s pieces are still in this price range. However, in 2019, The Fabricant sold a dress, at an auction, for $ 9,500, equivalent to more than $ 48,500, in direct conversion, according to the current dollar rate. Is it possible to find items of this type in Brazil? It is not yet possible to find Brazilian brands betting on virtual fashion. However, Brazilian consumers can make purchases on the websites of international brands and receive the images virtually. Is this the future of fashion? In a society that is increasingly aware of the preservation of nature and the concern with excessive consumption, digital clothing can be an option for the future of fashion. Having a much lower cost value compared to physical designer clothes, virtual pieces offer easier access. Furthermore, considering the influence of the digital universe, in which people gain fame because of the content they share on their social media accounts, such as Instagram and Twitter, the possibility of combining clothes with their photos, using digital tools, can be a revolution. The novelty, however, comes up against a great barrier in relation to the handling of effects software and visual animations. The major brands and brands are not familiar with these tools, having to hire professionals in the field to create the pieces in three dimensions, something that can influence the value of digital clothing.
