Imagine a world where your next virtual outfit is a statement for the planet, where ethical threads weave a narrative of change, and where fashion takes centre stage in the fight for a greener future. This isn’t a utopian fantasy; it’s the battle cry of the Interactive Futures Sustainable Fashion Challenge, and Scotland’s game developers could be at the forefront of the charge.
The global fashion industry is a behemoth, but its shadow looms large on our planet. 2.1 billion tons of greenhouse gases, 20% of the world’s wastewater, and mountains of plastic – the cost of our fast-fashion addiction is staggering. But in this darkness, a spark of hope ignites: the Interactive Futures Sustainable Fashion Challenge.
This isn’t just another competition; it’s a portal to a vibrant, unexplored frontier where your game-design superpowers can tackle a real-world titan. Imagine crafting interactive experiences that empower consumers, nudge fashion giants towards sustainability, and stitch together a circular economy where clothes aren’t discarded, but cherished.
The Challenge: Level Up Your Sustainability Game
The journey starts with the Interactive Futures Sustainable Fashion Lab. Immerse yourself in a crash course on the fashion supply chain, its complexities, and its impact on our planet. Glean insights from industry experts, academic wizards, and Future Fashion Factory’s vast ecosystem – from manufacturers to retailers to game-changers like yourself.
Then, unleash your creative fury in the Interactive Futures Catalyser. Brainstorm, prototype, and polish your game concept, ready to pitch it to the Challenge Investment Panel. Think rapid-fire feedback, expert advice, and a chance to snag a £5,000 grant to take your idea to the next level.
The Incubator: Where Dreams Become Prototypes
Four studios will rise from the lab, each armed with a £25,000 investment. The Interactive Futures Sustainable Fashion Incubator is your eight-week playground, where your “big idea” morphs into a tangible, playable prototype. Craft an experience that proves your concept, that speaks to the soul of sustainable fashion, and that’s ready to wow industry leaders in June 2024.
Why Level Up with the Challenge?
This isn’t just about winning; it’s about joining a revolution. You’ll gain:
- Insider knowledge: Demystify the fashion industry, its hidden levers, and its potential for change.
- Data-driven insights: Work with real-world data to create impactful, authentic experiences.
- Expert connections: Tap into the Future Fashion Factory network, a community of industry leaders, academic minds, and fellow game developers.
- IP development: Turn your idea into a valuable asset, ready to make waves in the sustainable fashion sphere.
- Commercial opportunities: Open doors to a burgeoning market ripe for innovation and change.
Scotland’s Developers: Rise to the Challenge!
The clock is ticking. Applications close on January 31st, 2024. This is your chance to be a pioneer, a game-changer, a hero for the planet. So, Scotland’s developers, answer the call. Pick up your controller, dust off your keyboard, and prepare to code a future where fashion and sustainability become synonymous. The world needs your creativity, your passion, and your unique brand of magic. Let’s level up the fashion industry, one game at a time.
How to Apply
- Please check you meet the below eligibility criteria.
- Please read the Heads of Terms and Application Guidance
- Complete the Expression of Interest here: https://forms.gle/t44wQq1SkSbkgoRA8
- Or request the Expression of Interest from contact@futurefashionfactory.org/ then submit the form and your pitch deck directly to contact@futurefashionfactory.org
Deadline for applications: 17:00 Wednesday 31st January 2024.
Shortlisted applicants will be notified by 15:00 Wednesday 7th February 2024. Up to 10 winning teams will be invited to participate in Phase 2.
Eligibility
The Interactive Futures Sustainable Fashion Challenge is open to:
- Sole traders and companies of all sizes from across the United Kingdom. Organisations must be registered with a main place of business and/or operational activity in the UK.
- Future Fashion Factory welcomes applicants from across the videogames and immersive content sectors plus adjacent media industries.
- All applicants need to prove eligibility, capacity and demonstrate their track record as requested. Applicants will be judged against evidence of the desirable superpowers (see Section 5) throughout the application process.
- Applicants must be available to participate in all required workshops, labs, briefings and meetings, plus other challenge-related events detailed in the Timeline below or scheduled as the Challenge progresses.
For more information and to apply for the challenge visit the Future Fashion Factory website.