🌈PRIDE: PHYGITAL, FASHION AND WEB3 IN 2023

May 26, 2023

2023 marks 53 years since the first PRIDE marches.

June 28, 1970, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago took to the streets to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the stonewall uprising. now, more than half a century later, the evolution of pride has been nothing short of extraordinary.

From the streets the largest pride march in the world in Sao Paulo, Brazil to the streets of Tallin, Estonia and all the way back to the pixel palaces of Vegas City in the metaverse, PRIDE has is emerging as an incredible opportunity and event in the phygital & Web3 space.

Looking for a PRIDE event near you?

Discover IGLTA's global events calendar HERE

Phygital Fashion & PRIDE: Innovation & Opportunity

The phygital fashion space has emerged as a powerful platform for activism and inclusion. Designers & brands are harnessing the power of this platform to raise awareness, provide a voice, and support LGBTQ+ causes.

Discover 7 Queer Brands Doing the Work to Make Fashion Visibly More Inclusive

In November 2022, Kaimin - a female led brand out of NYC who has collaborated with Megan Thee Stallion, Bjork, Lady Gaga and others, launched a hybrid collection entitled "Science of Dreams" and announced partnerships with Decentraland and GameStop NFT.

In the past, we've seen NFT drops from luxury brands like Givenchy - who were among the first to join the Web3 & phygital space. They very first collectible drop came in celebration of PRIDE month in 2021, which they followed up with again in 2022 - we're still waiting on news for this year's exclusive.

Luxury, starter and purely digital brands alike have an incredible opportunity with the AI boom of 2023 to show support for LGBTQ+ culture and inclusivity in both physical and digital spaces. While luxury brands have set the stage for a new era of activism in the phygital fashion space, and we can't wait to see what's in store for PRIDE 2023 from emerging voices in this space.

PRIDE in Pixels

This year, PRIDE events and brands across the globe are embracing the phygital revolution. NYX is partnering with Roblox and Twitch to create a virtual world where participants can explore the city and join in the festivities.

The metaverse, a collective virtual shared space, is hosting a plethora of PRIDE events this year. Decentraland is hosting their 3rd Annual PRIDE festival from June 27-29 in Vegas City. The festivities will feature a parade, educational events, exclusive wearables, interactive activities, and a variety of other unforgettable moments. Roblox and Minecraft are also slated to host PRIDE events throughout June, each offering unique activations and ways to participate.

Other metaverse platforms like VRChat and AltspaceVR are hosting PRIDE-themed worlds and events, proving that the metaverse is a new and exciting space for celebrating PRIDE and raising awareness of LGBTQ+ issues.

These partnerships highlight the innovative ways PRIDE events can use AI, AR, and phygital fashion to celebrate the queer community and raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues. The use of these technologies is still in its early stages, but the potential to revolutionize the way we celebrate PRIDE is immense.

The Future of PRIDE

As we look forward to PRIDE 🌈 2023, it's clear that Web3 and phygital fashion can play a crucial role in the evolution & extension of PRIDE celebrations. The intersection of the physical and digital worlds is creating immersive and interactive experiences that champion the LGBTQ+ community and open more doors to opportunities to connect & support the community.

Personally, we can't imagine a more fitting arena than the fusion of Web3 technology, digital fashion & PRIDE celebration to pave the wave forward.