What does it mean to be a “gamer” if video games are now more popular than television? Who are the winners and losers of luxury’s gamified future? And what kind of Jordans will we wear in the metaverse?
For our latest Highsnobiety White Paper, titled “Select Your Character,” we embarked on an extensive research project about the collision between gaming and fashion. In conversation with Acronym designer Errolson Hugh, musician and gamer Arca, and a panel of other industry experts and audience members, we learned more than we bargained for about the virtual future of luxury. And although the project was created originally for internal purposes, we’ve decided to open source it as a six-part email series, which will guide you through our findings over the course of a few weeks.
WEEK 1: WHO IS THE GAMER?
Stereotypes of gamers are quickly becoming irrelevant as society’s relationship to gaming becomes more nuanced. In Chapter 1, we’ll get a grip on what it means to be a “gamer” today.
WEEK 2: SELECT YOUR CHARACTER
Like the character menu at the beginning of a video game, our fashion choices don’t just express what we want, but who we want to be. Chapter 2 explores the future of style tribes in an age without bodies (and why fantasy gamers love Margiela).
WEEK 3: THE SKIN WE'RE IN
In Chapter 3, we look to unlock the beginnings of a post-human marketplace for luxury goods — and look at how real-world style tribes translate into cyberspace.
WEEK 4: DO IT FOR THE CLOUT
Gaming and fashion both operate in point systems, with players competing for clout and high scores. Chapter 4 dissects the competing future outcomes of a virtual luxury market, one where brands become more accessible, and one where the exclusivity of the real world becomes even more entrenched.
WEEK 5: ENTER THE METAVERSE
Fashion isn't just an expression of our individual beliefs, it’s a representation of our collective social values. While games were once a place to escape reality, Chapter 5 analyzes how they, too, will become increasingly intertwined with real-world values and economies.
WEEK 6: YOUR HIGH SCORE
As a graduation prize for completing the thread, we will share a printable download for the full 131-page “Select Your Character” White Paper, created originally for clients and collaborators only.
