Iconic Paris fashion house Maison Margiela has expanded its Web3 fashion offerings with the launch of its new NFT MetaTABI collection, as announced Wednesday.

Maison Margiela Launches Brand New MetaTABI NFT Collection

The MetaTABI collection offers a unique blend of physical and digital experiences, catering specifically to Maison Margiela’s discerning clientele. Two distinct tiers provide access to this exclusive ecosystem:

• Tier 1: Limited to 15 NFTs, each priced at 2.5 ETH (approximately $7700 USD), this tier grants ownership of handcrafted Tabi boots embellished with gold foil, along with digital wearables for The Sandbox and Ready Player Me platforms. Additionally, Tier 1 holders receive invitations to exclusive Maison Margiela Web3 events.
• Tier 2: With 1500 NFTs available at 0.185 ETH (approximately $560 USD) each, this tier offers many of the same benefits as Tier 1. Instead of physical boots, holders receive a custom leather wallet personalized with their crypto wallet number, further bridging the gap between physical and digital ownership.

#MetaTABI Collection is now available for Public Sale.

→ Official Links: https://t.co/C6ER3eTn2thttps://t.co/8OWBEFzahl

→ Opensea Collection: https://t.co/IxVFzlQmxV

→ Contract address: 0x5c8cb9d24348c0b4eda49992cb68dae050217d92 pic.twitter.com/zWnrNp5yyJ

— Maison Margiela (@Margiela) April 17, 2024

Developed in partnership with digital fashion house The Fabricant, the NFT launch plays on the concept of “phygital”- wherein physical products exist alongside a digital twin, typically either in the metaverse or on the blockchain.

“We’re not far from a future where fashion statements are made digitally,” NFT minting platform Crossmint wrote in a blog post about the MetaTABI Collection. 

“The idea with digital boots is the same as with physical boots—that you get to choose where you want to wear them,” Fabricant founder Kerry Murphy told digital fashion artist Stephy Fung in an interview on Monday.

Web3 Fashion’s Promising Future

Despite receiving wide media coverage, Wednesday’s launch isn’t the company’s only foray into the Web3 space. Last fall, Maison Margiela debuted a Web3 game described as “blockchain bingo” focused on minting over two dozen digital tokens.

The Web3 fashion industry is expected to boom in the upcoming years. By 2031, it is expected to reach $4.8 billion and see a compound annual growth rate of over 26%.

“This project continues the Maison’s journey of exploring digital technologies and new forms of communication for fashion enthusiasts, inspiring both current and future generations to envision fashion beyond traditional constraints,” the MetaTABI website reads in part.

Maison Margiela Chairman Stefano Rosso claimed the brand’s jump into Web3 fashion was only the tip of the iceberg, teasing yet-to-be-announced digital projects.  “It’s literally the beginning of the journey,” said Rosso.