We’re an NFT clothing brand. This doesn’t mean we’re printing pictures of NFTs onto clothes. Far from it. Instead we’re exploring how NFTs can be used to disrupt and develop the fashion industry.
NFTs are new. So new that most people still don’t really understand what they are. Understanding how NFTs can be combined with clothing and how brands can use NFTs can seem tough.
We’ll use this blog to explain what NFTs are and what makes them unique before sharing how our connected clothing uses NFTS and where we think the future of NFT fashion lies.
WHat are nfts?
NFT stands for non-fungible token. Whilst this might be good to know, it doesn’t give us any clues how NFT clothing might work. NFTS are a type of data record with a number of unique properties.
NFTs are provably unique.Any data recorded on an NFT are immutable. Once stored, they cannot be removed or altered, even by the NFT creator.
The data stored on an NFT can be accessed by anyone, anywhere at anytime.
NFTs can be used as a key. The owner can unlock unique experiences both online and IRL.
These unique properties enable a number of creative opportunities and improvements when NFTs are combined with clothing. NFTs can be used to prove a garments authenticity. They can act as a permanent record of a garment’s material composition and sourcing information. NFTs can store any media related to the garment and grant the owner access to unique experiences.
NFTS and the environment
There is a misconception that NFTs are damaging for the environment. Whilst it is true that early NFTs minted on the Ethereum blockchain did require an excessive amount of electricity, the underlying technology has advanced rapidly since then.
Modern blockchains use similar hardware and are comparable in energy use to servers running the pre-existing internet.
All Origin Thread clothing NFTs to this date have been minted on the Cardano blockchain. Cardano is a third generation blockchain that is both energy efficient and highly secure for end users.
Our first nft connected clothing
Our first NFT connected clothing shipped in September 2022. 60 shirts, made from organic cotton, hand printed in Bagru, India and cut and sewn in London England.
Each shirt was accompanied with a unique digital counterpart - an NFT. The shirt connected to the NFT using an embedded NFC (near-field communication) tag. A shirt-1 NFT can be viewed on
here. The shirt’s accompanying NFT is used to;
- Prove the garments authenticity.
- Store and share media of the fabric printing process.
- Act as a permanent record of sourcing information.
We’re pleased with this first iteration of NFT connected clothing but we know we can take the concept much further. Here’s how we plan to combine NFTs with clothing and where we see the future of NFT fashion going.
Towards new customer experiences
Blockchain, the underlying technology for NFTs has existed for over ten years. Its only with the advent of NFTs that we’re beginning to see use cases and applications for the blockchain that are attractive to a broader customer demographic.
We see NFTs as a consumer technology. As such, we see them as tools with which we can improve customer experiences and create entirely new ones.
Exclusive access
As well as storing data, NFTs can act as keys. An NFT can be used to unlock both digital and physical products and experiences for the token holder.
This functionality alone opens an entirely new world of creative customer experiences. Not only this, but the privileges awarded to token holders are transferred with the sale or transfer of the token. This unlocks a secondary value for token holders.
We’re sure that we’ll see countless new ways of implementing this in the coming years, here’s a few things we’ll be launching soon.
Token Gated Content - NFTs are used to access exclusive content. This could be video, text, vr experiences or even forums or message boards.
Limited Edition Products - NFT owners gain access to limited edition runs or products. Much in the same way that a limited edition luxury watch may only be available to select customers.
Priority Pricing and Availability - Token holders gain first access at preferential pricing to new releases.
Garment Gated Content - Something we’re very excited about. How can data stored on a garments NFC be used to unlock data stored on an NFT? Much more on this coming soon.
Verified resale
A sustainable approach to fashion is at the heart of what we do at Origin Thread. It’s why put so much emphasis on using NFTs to make our sourcing transparent. One key aspect of sustainable fashion is making clothes that last and are loved for a long time.
We’re already using NFTs to prove the authenticity of a garment, why not use the same tech to build a platform for verified resale of our products? By enabling the resale of our clothes, we hope to extend their lifetime use.
Sourcing transparency
NFTs are a consumer friendly way of storing and sharing data. Our belief is that informed customers make better buying decisions, both for themselves and for the wider environment.
Blockchain and supply chain transparency is a huge area for exploration and one which we think will be central to NFT clothing.
The challenge is to integrate different areas of a business into a new way of thinking and doing things. Through building Origin Thread, we hope to demonstrate how this can be done.
Care instructions
Clothing’s care instructions aren’t particularly glamorous. However they are key to long lasting garments. Helping customers take the best care of their clothes will help them to last longer. How can we use media embedded in NFTs to help our customers do this?
NFT clothing
NFT clothing is a new idea. We’re very early to this technology which means a lot of the groundwork is still to be laid, a lot of new ideas to be tested and refined. We’re excited to be doing this work and hope you can join us for the journey.
