Since the start of the pandemic, many organisations have been going through extensive digital transformation efforts that have resulted in new procedures, environments, strategies, and technologies that are here to stay long after restrictions have been lifted.

One new development has been coined the “Metaverse”. This “new generation of the internet” has received extraordinary attention after Facebook’s rebranding into Meta last year.

The Metaverse is in very early stages of definition and development and encompasses ideally a shared 3D digital world that can be accessed simultaneously by millions of users in which physical and digital elements converge. It is supported by immersive technologies, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, that are utilising a mixture of continuously advancing software, hardware, and digital content. Even today, it is possible to witness increasingly clear real-life benefits emerging from early adopting companies and users, e.g., within gaming and education. Especially, digital fashion has emerged to lead the activities in the Metaverse.

However, there are many questions that remain considering the future development of the Metaverse. Does the ideal Metaverse vision have real potential in the future? What new value streams may emerge and how will they impact each of us? How do we prepare for the potential challenges that may affect individuals and companies at a national and international level?

This roundtable brings together experts from early adopting organisations and regulatory perspectives to discuss the opportunities, challenges and what further investigations are required within the Metaverse and the Digital Fashion Industry.

Agenda

12:00: Lunch

12:40: Welcome and Introduction

12:50: Status and Opportunities for the Digital Fashion Industry in the Metaverse

13:30: Challenges and Knowledge Gaps for the Digital Fashion Industry in the Metaverse

14:15: Roundtable Discussion Groups on the Digital Fashion Industry and Feedback

15:00: Networking and Refreshments

This roundtable is sponsored by the internal University of Leeds Challenge Fund project 'Transformational Impact of Digital Platforms Ecosystems on Global Value Chains accelerated by COVID-19'.

The event will be recorded and used for future external grant applications.

Speaker Biographies

Metaverse Roundtable: Another buzzword or the next digital “holy grail”?