For the fashion industry, 2020 was a year of change. As
the covid-19 pandemic ravaged the world, the industry suffered its worst year
on record (Business of Fashion, 2021). Consumer behaviour shifted, and supply
chains were disrupted. The industry had to rethink their business and define
the 'new normal', which meant adapting to trends and focusing on digital
solutions. One of the solutions
could be digital fashion. Digital fashion is computer-generated fashion that
can be worn with your digital bodies - avatars - and with physical bodies by
using AR technology. PVH, a global apparel company that manages lifestyle
brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, has identified digital fashion as an opportunity
for new digital products/services or digital ventures and is looking to use it
in innovations that 'Win over Gen-Z' and 'Commit to Sustainability'. The aim of this research is to provide Area52
with a recommendation for how to pursue digital fashion innovation within the
coming ten years in the form of a future vision and a strategic roadmap.
Extensive literature review and multiple generative research methodologies like
focus groups, semi-structured interviews and co-creation sessions were used to
empathize with all stakeholders. Subsequently, various elements of Vision in
Product design (Hekkert & Van Dijk, 2011) and Design Roadmapping (Simonse
et al., 2015) were used to synthesize the insights into a set of
recommendations that are structured in a why-how-what format. Why? In our envisioned future, Gen Z are
identity nomads that want to be unique and continuously develop and discover
new sides of their identity through the fashion they wear. They would prefer to
have an endless wardrobe with which they can try something new every day.
However, the environmental impact and cost hold them back. In the on-demand and
augmented society that the world is heading towards, this problem can be
answered with the future vision: In 2030, augmented fashion will be the ethical
means for Gen Z to express and stretch their identity through instant
experimentation. How? In the stated
vision, digital fashion changes the interaction between consumers and brands
from a one-way stream to an infinite interaction loop. Tommy Hilfiger
facilitates the continuous discovery of the identities a person wants to
identify with. Consumers can explore and experiment with digital styles in the
physical domain using AR technology endlessly. In turn, Tommy Hilfiger perfects
their consumer profile with the data they receive. To arrive at the future vision, I propose a
three-horizon approach for Tommy Hilfiger: H1 Enhance physical fashion H2
Build blocks for phygital fashion H3 Instant experiments with augmented ethical
fashion What? Based on the roadmap,
future vision and brand-user interaction, the desired product-user interaction
is defined in the form of guiding principles. The principles state that Tommy
Hilfiger's digital fashion solutions should foster experimentation in a way
that: (1) Is Playful, (2) Is Dynamic and Iterative, (3) Offers
Interesting Variety, (4) Is Accessible, and (5) Enables Feedback. The way these principles can be put to
practice in product or service designs is demonstrated in the final vision
concept 'Anywear'. Anywear is a 2030 platform that connects style-influencers
to people who want to experiment with new identities. Through a subscription
model, users get access to an infinite digital wardrobe that they can use
across the entire phygital environment. It gamifies fashion and guarantees
newness by monetizing success for creators. The concept provides Tommy Hilfiger
with: Insight into how their products are styled, New inspiration for
designs, Customer engagement, Data on consumer personality,
preferences, community and possibly even activities, based on the fashion they
choose to augment.