Meta is launching "Meta Avatars Store," it's a digital designer clothing store for your avatars. The announcement was made by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg during an Instagram Live with Instagram's vice president of fashion partnerships Eva Chen.
In the livestream, Chen showcased one look showing a cropped T-shirt, low-rise jeans, and a white belt. It is outfitted on Zuckerberg's avatar.
According to Zuckerberg, the new fashion clothing options could be a means for users to express themselves through their avatars. This is something that he wants to explore. Although, currently it is not yet known how many people would actually spend money to dress up their avatars.
New Virtual Store is Launching on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger
The new virtual store that will allow users to buy designer clothes for their avatars will be launched on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger.
Digital outfits from Balenciaga, Prada and Thom Browne will be initially offered but more brands will be added soon according to a Facebook post by Zuckerberg. The store will begin rolling out next week in the United States, Canada, Thailand and Mexico.
As of writing, there is no information yet from Meta regarding the prices of the digital outfits. Accordingly, Meta avatars can still utilize free clothing options.
Zuckerberg said that "Meta plans to make the store an open marketplace where developers can create and sell clothing," according to TechCrunch.
In a statement, he added that: "We're launching our Avatars Store on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger so you can buy digital clothes to style your avatar. Digital goods will be an important way to express yourself in the metaverse and a big driver of the creative economy. I'm excited to add more brands and bring this to VR soon too."
Meta has been working to improve its avatars as the company tries to continue building the metaverse.
The 3D avatar was brought to Instagram earlier this year. Meta also rolled out updated avatars to Facebook and Messenger. More expressions, faces, skin tones and accessibility devices to avatars are included in the update.
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Branded Digital Garment is Becoming a Trend
There has been an increasing partnership between luxury fashion houses with technology companies in order to create branded digital garments.
In fact, last year, Fortnite introduced Balenciaga skins. The partnership allowed players to buy garments, a branded hoodie for example, for their in-game characters. Players of Roblox can visit Gucci Town. The town is complete with a garden with the brand's logo and a virtual store.
According to The Verge, although there are big names in Meta's launch, "the news dropped quietly this afternoon," and when asked for more details, the company didn't immediately respond.
According to Meta, the store will launch soon. However, the company did not provid information regarding how users will access the store. Hopefully digital clothes will not be as expensive as the real thing.
"Selling digital items in the metaverse is also an important part of Meta's strategy to keep making billions of dollars even as it pivots away from advertising," according to Engadget.
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