Collaboration between Khumo Morojele and Mbangiso Mabaso.
3 Experimental looks, shifting approach in pattern making and construction with efforts to minimize waste within the whole design and manufacturing process using 3D softwares (like blender, Clo3D and Unity) as a tool to not only reduce fabric waste but to also express the design process and end product digitally, immersing the user in a interactive virtual world where they can fully grasp and view the collection of the tangible sustainable garments through a unique and creative African digital lens.
With the use of VR Headsets and controllers as well as softwares hosting the World like Mona and VRCHAT, a User is able to enter into and further interact with a decorative landscape; Cape town like mountainous wilderness surrounding a Johannesburg CBD reminiscent futuristic metropolitan with high skyscrapers and flying South African siyaya taxis tele-transporting Users between showrooms that exhibit the garments on the black avatars that walk on runways and stand on podium pedestals shaped like coca-cola crates that you can find on the streets of Johannesburg CBD.
The showrooms explicitly visualize the hybrid design process, intersecting the real with the virtual; Studio shots of the garments worn on the Models that have been portrayed alongside the digital avatars that hold similarly features as the models wearing the rendered looks with behind-the-scenes and process shots, all being presented in the showroom.
All aspects of the virtual world from the showroom to the garments drive a narrative told by an entire team of black creatives and artists; making efforts in creating a world that holds importance to the representation of the black community with our own creative language and imagery being expressed, which is what Baso and I both care about immensely.
