global industry first: a "virtual reality world" fashion trend seminar

Fiona Jenvey, CEO of Mudpie presents trends at the first virtual world-based fashion design conference in history this December.

This spring/summer 2011 forecast season, Mudpie are entering into a new realm of trend seminar presentations - delivery via an avatar in an online virtual world.

The new SS11 Mudpie trend seminar is part of the Threading the Needle conference which has been put together by the Fashion Research Institute of New York using the ScienceSim platform.

Shenlei Winkler, CEO of the Fashion Research Institute said, "We are really excited about presenting Threading the Needle: The Future of Fashion Design, especially as it is the first virtual world-based fashion design conference in history. The conference is designed to gather fashion industry leaders to present their views on a range of topics designed to help a global audience of new designers 'thread their needle' and launch their careers."

Mudpie's virtual online seminar is using the technology responsible for Second Life, it is a online social environment whereby each user has a bespoke 'avatar' of themselves that they use to represent themselves in this virtual world.

Fiona Jenvey, CEO of Mudpie commented, "As a trend company we are delighted to be given the opportunity to present our trend seminars in such a unique way. As far back as 2006 when we researched our headline trend 'custom culture' for the autumn/winter 2008/2009 season, we were well aware of the potential of the virtual world showing that even then we were well ahead of the curve."

Mudpie's trend research for the AW0809 season started back in 2006 and in April 2007 they published their AW0809 Trendbooks outlining the Custom Culture or 'Fallen Angel' female trend influenced by aspects such as Second Life, avatars, virtual reality and the G-tech Revolution. Mudpie's research from 2006 showed then that retailers such as American Apparel were already selling clothes via the internet on Second Life and planning to launch a store in Second Life, and savvy brands were realising the importance of virtual branding and creating an online presence. A survey found 43% of online networkers from the US felt "as strongly" about their web community as they did about their real-world friends.

Jenvey added, "I have never personally used Second Life before, so this is an experiment for us in delivering our information in an alternative way."

"As a fashion education event, it will be a fantastic opportunity for Mudpie to correlate our online trend forecasting website, www.mpdclick.com, already widely used within fashion schools, with an educational trend forum for aspiring industry professionals of the future," Jenvey said.

The Fashion Research Institute invites you to attend Threading the Needle: The Future of Fashion Design, to be held on Thursday, December 3rd from 8 am - 5 pm EDT. It is a free conference for fashion design students and new designers.

Conference speakers include Kerry Bannigan (CEO, Nolcha Fashion Week); Fiona Jenvey (CEO, Mudpie); Beth Harris (Director of Digital Learning, MOMA-NYC); Crosby Noricks (PR Couture); Suzie Norris (Professor, Southampton Solent University); Elaine Polvinen (Professor, Buffalo State University); Michiel Thissen (Mythos Consultancy); and Shenlei Winkler (CEO, Fashion Research Institute).

For more information on Threading the Needle and how to participate, please visit http://needlethreading.com/Home_Page.html or contact admin@fashionresearchinstitute.com

For more information about Mudpie or their online trend forecasting website, www.mpdclick.com, please visit www.mudpie.co.uk or email enquiries@mudpie.co.uk.