Lebanese-American fashion designer, Rami Kadi, recently unveiled his first NFT, or non-fungible token for the layperson, collection at Theatre of Digital Art Dubai. The event also marked the unveiling of his latest haute couture line. The NFTs, which are the first for the designer, are sold under the banner Lucid Algorithms.
Widely known for his fascination for technology, Rami, is rapidly gaining international repute when it comes to forward-looking fashion that melds traditional craftsmanship with computing. For the latest range he has leveraged digital power to create something unique.
Starting with his NFT collection, which features 120 pieces that are available for purchase online on his website rami-kadi.com. However, the process is more fascinating than one would expect. The buyer can head to the studio and customise their own physical apparel, which is then reflected in the NFT, making it entirely bespoke and thus extremely valuable.
Moreover, the idea is to have a piece that exists in the real world, but also transcends into the virtual sphere.
Another curious change with his NFT collection is that Rami has chosen to use Cardano, a lesser known cryptocurrency alternative to Ethereum. A choice he justifies by citing the eco-credential of the former.
When it comes to the physical haute couture collection, Rami further dabbled with using algorithms to create unique patterns and styles, which he eventually signed off, or altered to match his design ethos.
While Rami is the first Arab designer to launch an NFT collection, he has also been recognised for his commitment to environmental causes within the area of sustainable fashion. He has been the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Fashion in West Asia as of September 2020.
