High fashion meets virtual fantasy

H&M's lates Innovation Story blends the craftsmanship of high fashion with the fantasy of virtual wardrobes

H&M presents the latest drop in its Innovation Stories initiative, an all-eyes-on-me collection that explores the blurring boundaries between our online and offline lives, and blends the craftsmanship of high fashion with the fantasy of virtual wardrobes. The H&M Innovation Metaverse Design Story collection will be on sale in selected stores and online from 8 December.

Taking inspiration from the immersive potential of the Metaverse as well as the tactile beauty of the physical world, the ready-to-wear collection invites self-expression and explores sustainability in three dimensions. The first comprises the stand-out womenswear and menswear looks and a series of accessories designed with circularity in mind. The second sees multiple pieces available as part of a rental programme in selected H&M stores. Then there is the third dimension, the digital collection, co-designed and crafted by H&M and the Institute of Digital Fashion, the London-based digital atelier and thinktank.  

The ready-to-wear collection

Key pieces from the physical collection blend eye-catching silhouettes with intricate embroidery and an internet-breaking colour palette. For women, a corset-waisted, neon-yellow dress with a dramatic tulle skirt dominates the spotlight. For men, an oversized black beaded bomber jacket offsets relaxed tailoring. In accessories, women’s wrap-around metallic sandals spiral to the thigh, while futuristic jewellery for men and women takes its cues from liquid metal that looks as though it’s been plumped by pixels. The more-is-more styling has been brought to life by Ibrahim Kamara, creative advisor to H&M for this project.     

The innovation

Circularity is a key focus for the collection. Several pieces feature recycled polyester fibres made entirely out of old garments and textile waste collected in partnership with H&M’s garment-collection programme in stores. One form-fitting dress in the collection has been made using a zero-waste pattern cutting process. Innovative materials including REPREVE® Our Ocean™, recycled polyester made from ocean-bound plastic bottles, comprise a faux-fur coat and jacket. After years of development, 100% recycled sequins made from plastic-bottle waste adorn two dresses, a pair of leggings and a blazer-and-skirt combination.   

The digital collection

Five augmented reality filters, accessible via the H&M app, complete the Innovation Metaverse Design Story line-up. Designed in partnership with the Institute of Digital Fashion, an AR fashion lens powered by Snap enables virtual try-on, seamlessly bringing the physical and digital worlds together and empowering customers to express themselves both IRL and online.

"The increasingly virtual dimension of fashion creates exciting future opportunities for H&M, allowing us to create vibrant, bold and daring virtual counterparts to our physical collections. In addition to the endless creative possibilities, it also allows us to propose a more sustainable and inclusive fashion vision that can be accessed by anyone, anywhere in the world", said Ann-Sofie Johansson, creative advisor at H&M.

"We at the Institute of Digital Fashion are excited to partner with H&M on a digital collection that pushes the boundaries of fashion as we know it, breaking free of physical restraints to embrace pure creativity. These digital garments are for every body, extending beyond seasons, beyond gender and beyond realities, and helping us to consider the planet", said Leanne Elliott Young and Cattytay, co-founders of the Institute of Digital Fashion.