ODDS are a generative sweater created by digital fashion pioneers TRIBUTE BRAND, in partnership with zero-waste sweater company Waste Yarn Project and generative art company Chromie Squiggles.
The result of the collaboration is a unique generative sweater created by the on-chain source code from Chromie Squiggles and a physical zero-waste sweater from Waste Yarn Project. The Chromie Squiggles code creates random outcomes by using different variables of colors and gradients, to produce unique squiggles. TRIBUTE makes the code from Chromie Squiggles into a physical and digital asset, that is one of a kind for each buyer.
The digital artifacts come in the form of generative NFTs (non-fungible tokens), which are unique digital assets located on Ethereum blockchain. The blockchain is a “peer-to-peer network,” which means rather than being owned by one central server it is distributed publicly across many servers. The blockchain stores when users make, buy, trade, or sell artifacts becoming a means to track ownership.
Opensea —NTF marketplace— describes how “Today, when you buy a piece of art or a collector’s item, it typically comes with a paper certificate of authenticity, which you must then keep track of forever. It is easily forgotten, lost or destroyed, creating a very fragile system for authenticity. Blockchain’s offer a simple and more secure solution to this long-standing issue of proving authenticity.” This new technology is important for the future of fashion because it provides a revolutionary way for how we interact with digital content.
TRIBUTE was created by Vrbanic and Vajda, back in 2020. Vrbanic states how “Back then, the market was nonexistent. We thought, let’s just see how people react and create [a] community.” They started by posting their designs online and had friends model their digital garments. It began as a Web 2 e-commerce platform, experimenting with the price of digital clothing which has become more profitable over time, with items going from $69 to $299.
Vrbanic began fashion design, making physical clothing, and was disheartened by the wastefulness of the industry. “I realised the problems of fashion early because I was surrounded by it… We were always questioning how we could change.” Digital fashion became a means for Vrbanic to create more ethical fashion since, it remove issues of overconsumption of physical clothing, gender assumptions, or sizing.
On TRIBUTE, buyers virtually purchase items of clothing and then TRIBUTE allows the assets to be “pasted” onto existing images of the consumer. Usually, the images allow consumers to become a part of new realities, creating a new version of self in the digital world.
As the brand grew, it began to delve into the new landscape of Web 3: an endless vessel for immersive fashion, the metaverse, augmented reality, and decentralized ownership of assets. Vrbanic says, “Technology is here and communication is changing, and the need for fashion exists in new spaces and those spaces are virtual.”
Vrbanic and Vajda believe that digital fashion is a channel for creativity since users can express themselves in different realities. The clothing on TRIBUTE is not designed for the physical world. Vrbanic states, how “You can put it on fire, you can make it metallic, you can make it huge…“[Virtual] fashion shouldn’t have to look like clothing, because we don’t need our body in those spaces.” The ultimate goal of TRIBUTE is to become a “digital fashion house.”
The emergence of cyber fashion has led to the creation of the phygital—the blending of physical and digital spaces. TRIBUTE has been working toward a zero-waste sustainable vision of fashion, which is inclusive and expressive. Buyers are drawn to this model because contactless fashion is a more ethical way of consuming, allowing boundless expression and creativity.
The genius of TRIBUTE BRAND and Chromie Squiggle partnering with Waste Yarn Project is that buyers can get a physical version of their NTF, which is also ethically created. Waste Yarn Project uses surplus yarn to make the clothing soft, and due to the nature of the blends the sweaters have a fuzzy look, which makes them look very similar to the generative squiggles. An ODD sweater takes around twelve hours to make by two or three designers, making them a truly crafted item.
The ODD sweater has a TRIBUTE NFC chip which links directly to the TRIBUTE’S App, as a means of authenticity. The chip enables communication across electronic devices over a distance of 4 cm or less. This NFC chip allows the buyer to change their digital sweater using AR technology. It is interesting having the physical sweater as a permanent item, in contrast to the digital version which can be constantly changed and reimagined.
TRIBUTE’S link between the physical and digital world creates synergy and harmony, reflecting how both can co-exist as one. It is no surprise that TRIBUTE BRAND has become a pioneer in the digital fashion world since launching in 2022 due to its inspired way of engaging with the new digital landscape.
TRIBUTE BRAND has raised $4.5 million in funding from investors. These investments were spearheaded by Collab+Currency, a cryptocurrency venture fund that invests in early-stage projects to aid Web3 brands. Other significant investors include Megan Kaspar, Gmoney, and Red DAO, showcasing how TRIBUTE BRAND has become a name in the digital clothing sphere and is expected to grow further.
The future of fashion is changing as creatives find themselves exploring new forms of expression in digital spaces. The rise of NTFs and interest in augmented realities and virtual realities echoes how this cyber fashion is here to stay. In a world where too much physical clothing impacts our environment, the digital world offers an ethical alternative that is more accessible and inclusive. Caroline Rush, CEO of the British Fashion Council, believes that 10-15% of our wardrobes could become digital. With brands struggling with chain supplies since the pandemic, the digital space has become a means for a more sustainable future.
With successful partnerships with luxury fashion houses Jean Paul Gaultier and Carolina Herrera, and now an innovative creation of ODDS, it is clear that TRIBUTE is multifaceted and versatile. We here at GLITCH are excited to see TRIBUTE’s further growth and expansion in cyber fashion. The of future fashion is digital and sustainable, and we are excited to see how TRIBUE will continue shaping and inspiring the industry. The real question is: what will you be wearing in the Metaverse?
By Amber Weir from GLITCH Magazine
