Meta's new store will let you wear Prada, Balenciaga, Thom Browne—virtually at least
Luxury powerhouses Prada, Balenciaga, and Thom Browne are the first clothing brands to sell in Meta’s upcoming Avatars Store.
Meta announced on June 20 that avatars users on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger would soon be able to try on and purchase digital clothes for their own avatars with the launch of the digital store.
Need a fresh fit for your avatar? We're launching our Avatars Store on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger so you can buy digital clothes. Mark Zuckerberg and @evachen212 tried out new looks from @BALENCIAGA @Prada @ThomBrowne ✨https://t.co/7SN0hdYz2D pic.twitter.com/Bp9zeK2ZNl
— Meta Newsroom (@MetaNewsroom) June 17, 2022
In an Instagram Live on June 18, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg went on a virtual fashion runway to give a demo of his avatars wearing various clothing from designer brands like the motocross apparel from Balenciaga, hoodies from Prada, and classic striped silhouette suites from Thom Browne, which will soon be available in Avatars Store.
“I’m very grateful and proud that these iconic brands are joining us to kind of kick-off our who fashion in the metaverse,” said Zuckerberg.
In a separate Facebook post on the same day, Zuckerberg said that he aims to develop Avatars Store into an open marketplace for developers, allowing them to make their design and sell their own digital clothing.
“Digital goods will be an important way to express yourself in the metaverse and a big driver of the creative economy,” the media magnate said.
Meta also hopes to make the avatars community "fully represent" themselves by clothing their avatars with various digital clothes from leading brands available for sale soon on Avatars Store.
“We also know that people often want to change their look, whether in the real world or in digital spaces,” said Meta. “One way we’ll make that evolution easier is by continually offering new options that reflect the latest sartorial trends and expanding to offer more outfits from fashion, sports and lifestyle brands over time.”
The Avatars Store will launch this week in the U.S., Canada, Thailand, and Mexico.