Breaking The Binary: The Power of Digital Fashion
Contributed to Issue 1 of The Grey by digital fashion designer Joseph Boys-Smith, on the theme of Fashion & Gender.
As the boundaries between the physical and digital slowly warp, streaming into a seamless simulation, tensions between pixelated living and pragmatic spaces are unlocking new possibilities for dynamic individuality and eclectic forms of expression. Emerging from the post-pandemic world, our daily landscapes have been dramatically reshaped across the globe by the acceleration in technology and accessibility, allowing for exploration of identity in ways that were previously unimaginable. Through customizable avatars, virtual dress-up and immersive digital experiences, individuals are able to challenge, develop and enhance aspects of themselves that transcend traditional norms.
Across this shift, digital fashion houses have become the backbone of the fashion industry’s technological evolution, expanding our ideas of fashion, and providing us with new innovative techniques and digital lexicon. These forward-thinking brands harness the power not only to create pixelated clothing for digital entities, but also have the ability to resonate with diverse audiences by offering a platform where individuality can be recognised and admired. Unlike the static nature of physical clothing, digital garments can be designed, altered and personalised in real-time, without any tangible materials. Users can modify colours, silhouette and textures almost instantly, reinforcing the idea that gender and identity are not fixed, but ever-mutating.
Using unapologetic queer rebellion and spirituality to create thought-provoking digital fashion is the emerging London-based brand, House of Autonomy. Celebrating fluid expression, House of Autonomy explores themes of anarchy, religion and non-conformity to amplify queer voices through digital fashion films, hybrid collections and CGI editorials. Their collections are entirely genderless, inviting the physical and digital user to experiment and explore their identity with its daring designs, free of limitations and away from negative societal expectations.
“House of Autonomy aspires to be a reflection of your unique identity”, House of Autonomy.
“The Horn’s are in his Hands, by House of Autonomy”
“Chastity Stone, the digital fashion doll”
House of Autonomy is one of many trail-blazing brands paving the way for a new era of fashion that is more experimental and equipped with tools to reflect a vibrant community of people wishing to re-imagine their authentic selves in the digital world. As digital fashion houses continue to rise, people around the world are gaining access to fashion through gaming, augmented reality and virtual platforms, making it easier than ever to explore their identities through both high-end and everyday digital styles - far more accessible than the exclusive couture showcased at fashion weeks. This shift is signifying that the introduction of digital fashion is not just about the clothing, it can be seen as a reflection of individuality and freedom to express each and every unique identity.
“When developing the concepts behind our digital collections, it’s crucial we reflect elements of queer history into the digital landscape. We can’t create a new virtual world without acknowledging the error in our current world.”, House of Autonomy.
As for the future of digital fashion and its powerful influence on our identities, we should consider the following: As technology advances, will new forms of contemporary expression continue to emerge, and what will the implications of this be? How can we ensure that the digital tools we use remain fair, inclusive and truly representative? Given the global response to digital fashion, it’s clear that this medium for communicating not only fashion but also identity is becoming increasingly normalised and accepted. We’ve already seen this through multiple virtual CGI campaigns from the likes of Maybelline and Jacquemues, suggesting that digital fashions growth is only just beginning.