SHIBUYA109 metaverse blends tech, style and sustainability

Earlier this week, KDDI Corporation launched a unique metaverse exhibition featuring upcycled fashion works from Bunka Fashion College students. The exhibition, which will be held in the newly established SHIBUYA109 space within the “αU metaverse,” aims to demonstrate the potential of technology in promoting upcycled fashion and sustainable practices in the industry.

“αU metaverse” is a virtual platform launched on 7 March, and users can enjoy live streaming, meet & greet events, and voice communication with others. Set in recreated versions of Shibuya and Osaka, the platform has already hosted various events featuring VTubers, comedians, and artists, fostering new forms of interaction with fans.

“αU metaverse” introduces a new SHIBUYA109 space, offering users an immersive planetarium-like environment for window shopping and purchasing items. To celebrate this launch, an upcycled fashion exhibition from Bunka Fashion College will be held, showcasing works from a school competition where first-year Fashion Distribution Department students redesigned clothing based on the theme of “SHIBUYA.” These designs have been meticulously digitized for the “αU metaverse” exhibition, where they will be sold as avatar items for users to customize their virtual appearance.

“αU metaverse” is designed to encourage creative activities and communication, and this event aims to provide Bunka Fashion College students, representing the next generation of talent, with an opportunity to explore metaverse communication. By selling upcycled fashion items as digital assets, the platform allows users to enjoy unique fashion pieces that may be difficult to mass-produce and sell in reality.

In the future, “αU metaverse” intends to expand its efforts to support individual creators and develop mechanisms to generate revenue through the sale of digital works, further promoting the use of technology in the upcycled fashion industry.

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