Matt Zara

The inaugural Metaverse Fashion Week (MVFW) (March 24-27) represents a new mainstreaming high for fashion’s hyper-digital experimentation, with 108,000 attendees buying over 7,000 digital garments. Staged in virtual world platform Decentraland, it comprised catwalks, stores and showcases from designers, developers and retailers including Dolce & Gabbana, Yahoo and Selfridges. We break down the best projects.

Taking on the mantle of ‘brand as service provider’ while furthering its Target Forward commitment to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, American retailer Target has retrofitted its Californian Vista location with 3,420 solar panels. Billed as its first net-zero store, it will transmit a 10% yearly energy surplus back into the local power grid.

Two major British retailers are capitalising on the way in which the pandemic has redefined the home, by leaning into hospitality-esque spaces to seduce shoppers. Internet service provider EE’s touring townhouse contextualises its hyper-fast fibre connectivity via lifestyle and wellness tech, while catalogue retailer Argos’s shoppable hotel is inspired by Pinterest’s homeware trends.