As the events of 2020 and 2021 forced the closure of physical spaces and compelled many of us to stay at home, the Metaverse emerged as a place we could still dress up for and go to. Fashionistas sought solace on virtual domains, and the Metaverse quickly found a new following in the world of fashion. And when real-life fashion events got cancelled during the lockdowns, virtual influencers and Metaverse stakeholders opened online boutiques, staged virtual catwalk shows and invited avatars to digital hang-outs. Words by Bradley Quinn.