Astraverse: the new black-owned fashion game

Astra are a team of young black designers, coders and digital artists building a one of a kind digital fashion experience in the Metaverse. Astraverse.xyz is a startup gamifying retail with web3 technology. Those of you who aren’t metaverse/tech savvy (me too, don’t worry!) might be wondering, what does this all mean? Let me break it down. Astra blends the physical and digital (tech folks call it ‘phygital’) to create the Astraverse, an online experience that allows users to play games and shop in the metaverse, and receive the clothes they buy digitally in real life.

In the Astraverse, users are able to shop with friends in multiplayer and try on clothes using avatars (goodbye, sweaty changing rooms). If you were ever hooked on Sims, Bratz or other games with a fashion element then this is perfect for you! The Astraverse also encourages sustainable fashion practices as users are able to try and buy clothes that are yet to be made, thus reducing the amount of mass produced garments.

The Astra team has hopes for worldwide recognition. The team held a futuristic-themed launch event in London in October, followed by another in Lagos, Nigeria this month. We were able to attend the London event, where the atmosphere was buzzing, full of people in their futuristic fits, dancing along to Alte, Afrobeats and more provided by NATIVE Sound System. The futuristic theme was extended to the decor with stars projected all over the walls, lasers beaming, while video excerpts from the Astraverse were displayed on screen. We are told the vibes continued at the Lagos event, which featured local artists and DJs such as Smada, Aye!, and Honeeay, and attendees dressed in their 2050 best. 

Astra also attended NFT London where visitors had the chance to try out cyber physical arcade stations and win NFT London merch if they ranked in the top ten.

The Astraverse.xyz is available to join for free now. Don’t forget to show us your outfits!

You can see more fashion news like this from GUAP here.