BrandLab360 helps students tap Web3 technologies that support digitalisation of the fashion industry

BrandLab360 has partnered with Manchester Metropolitan University’s Manchester Fashion Institute to create what is pitched as the UK’s first live event at a university supporting real-time virtual collaboration.

This has enabled the latter’s students to develop and experience immersive virtual reality (VR) applications in both business-to-business and business-to-consumer settings, ensuring they have the understanding and practical application of Web3 technologies that can support the ongoing digitalisation of the fashion industry.

Their work will be reviewed by brands including Christian Dior, Ralph Lauren, Boohoo, Matalan, The Very Group and JD Sports.

BrandLab360 will be enabling visitors to walk through virtual showrooms as avatars and interact with the students and their work.

Its technology is able to render complete photorealistic, multi-user experiences and enhanced modular functionality within a standard web browser with no additional hardware, apps or software downloads required.

Over the past 12 months, second year students from the BSc Fashion Buying & Merchandising course at Manchester Fashion Institute have been learning about virtual environments and their value to the fashion industry.

Working with BrandLab360, the students were challenged to produce and present innovative and sustainable fashion collections along with promotional videos and detailed product research.

An immersive and interactive experience has supported Fashion Buying students to understand first hand how VR can be used to deliver unparalleled accessibility and convenience, whilst also saving time and travel expenses, but more importantly reducing a business's overall carbon footprint.

Anita Mitchell, Digital Lead at Manchester Fashion Institute, says: ‘Manchester Fashion Institute is long regarded as a trail blazer with regards its adoption of digital fashion technologies. VR and the metaverse continue to be an important focus within our curriculum.”

“Our continued success has been based on strong collaboration with international fashion brands and leading technology providers such as BrandLab360, who play a vital role in helping us develop the rapidly changing workforce requirements of an increasingly digitised global fashion supply chain.”

“This latest collaboration with Brandlab360 further strengthens Manchester Fashion Institute’s goal to support the fashion industry by preparing a steady stream of future-proofed fashion buyers that are ready for the real world.”

“It’s a changing world where the complex values of today’s consumers are driving the launch of new style options, services and varieties that increasingly centre around personalised collections at a much faster pace; with the added pressure of buying fashion products in a leaner and more cost-effective way whilst delivering transparency and sustainability across the value chain.”

Jackie Rayner, Senior Lecturer, Manchester Fashion Institute, says: “We are incredibly excited to be working with industry leader BrandLab360.”

“As a digitally focused education provider we want our fashion business students to engage with and help shape the new ways of working for our industry, as well as to enhance their understanding of Web3 and all it offers to brands and retailers.”

Dan O’Connell, Co-founder at BrandLab360, comments: “I have always been impressed at how the team at Manchester Met embrace technology, and particularly how they understand the power of Web3 technology being a tool to bring people together.”

“We are proud to be working with Manchester Fashion Institute to become innovators of the future. The origins of BrandLab360 came from the fashion industry so it’s good to be able to give back.”

“Through our groundbreaking technology we have enabled the students to be the first in the UK to put on an event of this kind that is both sustainable and available to all.”