Virtual models – A new trend in fashion, openly competing

Today, the use of virtual models is a new trend of the fashion industry, competing openly with real people.

Today with the incredible development of technology and the 4.0 revolution, we can create anything with just a few clicks. Robots are steadily replacing everything from manufacturing to services with artificial intelligence. In the field of fashion, which is considered to be an inviolable mecca of human beings, thanks to CGI, we are seeing the emergence and future that dominates the fashion industry of virtual models.

The application of virtual models in fashion

Virtual models are those created in the form of 3D design simulation by programmers using CGI technology (computer generated imagery). At first, they were born just to help fashion designers sketch ideas before applying them to real people.

 

Hatsune Miku – the famous Japanese virtual singer who appeared in the design sketches of Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton.

She also used to wear Haute Couture, appearing alongside Givenchy creative director – Riccardo Tisci in the photo shoot for Vogue USA.

After that, some individuals have launched virtual models in the form of KOLs (Key Opinion Leader – people who influence the choices and decisions of customers) with life-saving photos and posts that have a personality that are no different from real people. There are always curious questions around issues such as: “How are they created? Why are they so real? What are they doing? How do they do that?” … helped these virtual KOLs own a dizzying number of followers, participated in the social network race with the top IT girls like Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid … Thanks to the popularity and impressive “computers” appearance, fashion houses and brands began to keep an eye on and use them as virtual models in their campaigns.

The perfect and unreal beauty of Shudu Gram amazes everyone on the Internet

The first appearance of a virtual model is Shudu Gram – a black model with impressive appearance created by British photographer Cameron James Wilson. Shudu has just received the enthusiastic support of supermodel Tyra Banks, appeared on the Instagram of cosmetics company Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, and collaborated with both the famous fashion brands Oscar de la Renta or Balmain.

The 19-year-old Brazilian-Spanish girl who identifies herself as a singer-model is actually created by CGI.

The most significant mark of the virtual model world is the appearance of Miquela Sousa – a famous American model, with two Brazilian-Spanish blood. Her account was first updated in April 2016, and now has more than 1.6 million followers. In early 2018, Miquela received a cooperation invitation from the Prada brand and attended the Fall 2018 fashion show at Milan Fashion Week. Since then, more and more brands are attracted to her model with silly hair and beauty like Joi in this blockbuster “Blade Runner 2049”.

Beautiful beauty of Miquela.

The appearance of Miquela reminds the public of Joi, the beautiful A.I (artificial intelligence) with the cyber-punk glamorous image in the movie “Blade Runner 2049”.

Success after success, Miquela has appeared in many magazines such as V Magazine, Paper, Novembre Magazine … participated in fashion campaigns of Balenciaga, Proenza Schouler, Prada, Diesel, Supreme, Vetements and Vans. She even got the cover of Vogue magazine in September – the number of feats and the most important of the year, enough to see the love that fashion industry is giving her this virtual model.

Recently, Miquela became a new member of the #MyCalvins advertising campaign. She and young supermodel Bella Hadid had a shocking lock screen on Calvin Klein ads.

Miquela is the last name to be announced in Calvin Klein ‘”I speak my truth in #MyCalvins” campaign with prominent young names such as Billie Eilish, Indya Moore or Troye Sivan.

Miquela appeared in a short 30-second clip with the long legs of Bella Hadid and the two casually kissed each other that made the audience be surprised by the incredibly realistic images!

The hidden implication of Bella Hadid and Lil Miquela’s lips-locking action is that both have blurred the boundary between reality and virtual.

For the world fashion village, the appearance of Shudu or Miquela has created a special feature that makes us go from curiosity to curiosity. This “virtual” girl embodies the personality, the way of thinking, the creative creativity of a whole community in the 4.0 revolution.

When fashion is trying to shake off the obsolete obsession, proving that you know how to move forward to capture the new, the use of virtual models to replace real people is the trend to show the approach to the modernity of fashion industry. Virtual models represent the future, for the technological advancements that the fashion industry is longing to not be left behind. Of course, the rise of a trend provides opportunities for one person but is also a threat to the future of others. The fashion industry, which is full of competition, is even more fierce when the “virtual” girls start fighting for the place of the “real” models.

For example, like Miquela, not everyone can be in the cover Vogue, a position that even with long legs is just a dream, but this CGI model can do it. And the continuous winning advertising show for big fashion brands means that Miquela is robbing the chance of countless real-life models.

Virtual models also have many advantages that real people cannot have. They can create anything from computer software from super-standard bodies to glossy skin or other details, while real supermodels have to struggle with real-life limitations to create. The appearance attracts brands. Virtual models can also be changed to fit any culture or an individual object with just a few mouse clicks. They do not even have to work hard but can still work anywhere in the world.

Miquela’s diverse beauty is done very quickly with just a few mouse clicks.

However, there is still reason for the model world to be so confident about its position in the current fashion industry. That is the way virtual models can completely replace real people on the catwalk is a big and long project because the cost of designing a virtual version is not small, not to mention the space, costumes with realistic movements and experiences to bring the audience at the show.

The increase in the number and quality of virtual models in the present age is real, and it is affecting the vast majority of other long legs. But what real people need to do now is to find ways to refresh themselves, it is the newness, diversity in style that attracts and holds brands, not because you are “real” or “Virtual”.