The year 2021 was a paradox - a harsh yet beautiful period of my story. Harsh because I found myself adrift, mired in a season of struggle after pouring my efforts into various endeavors, each culminating in failure. Discouragement and a profound sense of being lost weighed heavily. Yet that same year would unveil unanticipated beauty. One night, I remembered a tattered notebook tucked away, near-forgotten - a treasured tome where I had meticulously captured every inspired idea and dream since I was 15. Exploring those pages, I felt this could be the compass to realign my course. Amidst the myriad ideas was one that struck a transcendent chord - launching a fashion brand, but not just any; a streetwear label imbued with purpose.
You see, my love for streetwear extended far beyond the garments themselves. It was the culture's very essence that captivated me - the raw ethos of fostering genuine human connection, uninhibited self-expression, and the empowerment of individuals to walk their own authentic paths. As I pored over that fateful scribble from years past, reconnecting with the streetwear movement's defiant spirit, every strand of my being resonated. The dots threaded together into brilliant clarity - this would be my next chapter, however uncertain the destination.
The day Mismir officially launched marked one of my journey's most profoundly meaningful milestones. It was akin to witnessing a long-gestating vision finally take its first breaths - my "child" coming to life before my eyes. Over the next months, I worked to spark diverse initiatives under Mismir. However, my purposes extended far beyond merely crafting garments.
I wanted Mismir to transcend being known merely for its fashion products. I envisioned it as an entity that would be revered for its community - for the powerful human stories embodied and connections fostered through an ethos of uninhibited expression and empowerment. My driving purpose was to create something with the potential to leave a positive, lasting mark on the world itself. This had been the catalyzing dream fueling my relentless efforts since Mismir's inception - an aspiration to end conventional thinking and redefine the very horizons of what fashion and life itself could be. Yet, despite the excitement and dedication I poured into making this vision tangible, I continually found myself lacking a means to authentically bring those transformative stories, connections, and empowerment to the people.
That was, until one fateful day when a headline piqued my curiosity - an article discussing the staggering $69 million sale of an image. My instincts as a forever curious soul instantly kicked in. Why would someone spend such an astronomical sum for a JPEG file? ( Sounds familiar? ) This question opened my door to the realm of NFTs.
From that point forward, I became obsessed, with consuming all information about this blockchain-powered technology. I needed to understand its fundamentals, its implications, its abilities. Might NFTs be the missing element to finally, fully breathe life into the world I envisioned for Mismir? After hundreds of hours of research and contemplation, an epiphany struck - this technology could potentially bridge the remaining gaps in my grander aspirations for reshaping fashion and life. It could be the missing piece of my puzzle. It was at that moment of realization that I decided to temporarily shut Mismir's operations down. I knew that to manifest my vision with authenticity, I needed to reconfigure everything from the ground up, strategically leveraging NFTs and additional technologies. This move demanded full immersion - for two years, I worked to build a framework to allow the reinvented Mismir to disrupt perceived boundaries.
Finally, on May 6th, 2024, after working through the uncertainty and challenges, my "child" lived anew, fortified by technological architecture to inspire transformative experiences. A new chapter had begun, all sparked by my curiosity over one simple image sale. Who could have imagined that a seemingly innocent headline would so drastically refine the trajectory of my life's work?
Through this article, I invite you to embark on an explorative journey through the innermost layers of my mind and the transcendent vision I've architected for Mismir. My ambition is to reveal how I aim to redefine the very horizons of fashion and life itself by interweaving cutting-edge technology with humanity's full creative potential. I firmly believe that fashion and life are inextricably intertwined - two appearing separate entities that can only truly evolve by elevating one another in tandem. With Mismir, I seek to catalyze that symbiotic redefining by first immersing you in my reconceptualized perception of fashion's realm. Yet, this won't be a solitary, top-down disruption. In my opinion, the most profound transformations happen through the collective mind of a unified community. So I'll share my vision, but also the frameworks being built to empower you - the people - to join me as co-creators in reshaping fashion and life itself, through your own expressions and narratives.
I am aware that the idea of engaging and perceiving fashion in an entirely new way may sound bizarre to many. But is it really that foreign of an idea? I would argue that narrowing the infinite boundless realms of fashion and life themselves to finite, preconceived boxes is what's truly odd in this era of exponential change and possibilities.
Fashion Unbound
When most people ponder fashion, what immediately springs to mind? What singular element has become the de facto definer of fashion in their eyes? Based on my experience, and as you may have already realized, it is garments. But is fashion merely garments, or should I ask - has fashion ever truly been just about the garments themselves? I would argue no. Looking back through pivotal periods in our shared human history, we can recognize that fashion has never simply been relegated to pieces of clothing. Rather, we've solely utilized garments as canvases to express, foster connections, and cultivate empowerment.
We've forever adorned ourselves in particular garments to make statements about our identities, whether conscious or subconscious. Think of streetwear's emergence or the Flapper Era, when clothes directly defied societal conventions. Those garments empowered people to outwardly express their values, and forge bonds with like-minded others and their authentic selves, ultimately enabling them to feel emboldened. It was the story and message behind each piece, the essence imbued into every stitch of fabric, that mattered most. These were the intangible elements that imbued meaning into a simple t-shirt or dress. Sometimes overtly expressed through striking printed graphics, other times conveyed through the aesthetic alone. But it was never the physical material itself that represented true fashion. People didn't merely cherish garments as objects; they valued what those garments represented and the experiences they facilitated, however subconsciously. While admittedly somewhat intangible, if we look inward and reflect on our own experiences, we recognize that a garment's value lies in what transcendent realms it allows us to access.
Unfortunately, most of us today have lost touch with that deeper essence. We confine fashion to being solely about the garments themselves. But as I've stated, and will continue arguing - is it really only garments? Are we not missing out on powerful opportunities to positively impact society by limiting fashion to just pieces of clothing? ( Will touch on this later ) I feel we must open our eyes to understanding that behind each garment lies a story, a message imbued with resonant meaning. Sometimes that story comes “embedded” within the garment itself, while other times it is we who craft the narrative that forges such a profound personal bond.
Not long ago, technology redefined fashion's landscape through tailoring that enabled precise fits and bespoke designs - instruments like the loom heralding this sartorial revolution. And now, I believe technology is poised to reshape fashion once more. The primary way I see this redefining occurring is that tech gives us new means to convey those deeper, transcendent layers behind garments directly to people, rather than leaving such meanings as mere suggestions. We can reimagine and recontextualize those stories, presenting them through novel mediums to ultimately challenge limiting perspectives on what fashion is or can be. Because at its core, I believe fashion is something inherently intangible that extends far beyond just physical pieces. And this is precisely what I intend to do through Mismir.
Technology has given birth to digital fashion, as well as to augmented reality (AR), extended reality (XR), and Near-Field Communication (NFC) capabilities. These four elements form the core of my vision for Mismir, as they represent the means through which we can shatter the notion that fashion is limited to just physical garments, broadening people's horizons on how they perceive and engage with it.
Digital fashion allows us to expand our understanding that fashion can transcend physical constraints - it can be anything. I love characterizing digital fashion as art, particularly because in a boundless digital realm where any concept can be created, it can also be "worn" and expressed. Whether one's muse is a sculpture, painting, electronic device, or anything else, it can manifest as digital fashion. We've been confining this notion solely to the human form, but true digital fashion extends beyond the body into realms of shapes and aesthetics we previously could never have conceived as wearable.
While the journey with AR will start relatively slowly, such as graphics on garments coming alive, virtual wings attached, or simple AR filters for social media, I foresee a future where my vision of digital fashion and AR technology become beautifully symbiotic. All the imaginative experiences I envision will seamlessly integrate into our daily lived realities, whether through viewing digitally tailored garment photos we share or donning photorealistic digital pieces superimposed over our physical selves in social media “stories”, videos, and live streams. ( Already happening ). We're already spending more time immersed in crafting new virtual identities through social platforms. Imagine how electrifying it would be to authentically fashion those identities in realistic digital garments we could proudly wear across our digital experiences.
Then there is extended reality, where the very nature of garments transcends static states. Envision a t-shirt that can dynamically change colors, shapes, or graphics every few moments, revealing different emanating aspects of your persona to those around you. It will take time to reach that capability, likely years, but that horizon where people can perceive the multifaceted stories and experiences woven into each fashion piece is attainable.
Finally, NFC technology represents one of the advancements I find most exciting. While it has inhabited our world for years through contactless payments or facilitating the connection between two or more devices, I believe we're just beginning to apply this tech innovatively to fashion. Beyond facilitating purchases or unlocking content, I envision future garments containing NFC chips that activate wholly new dimensions of functionality - whether enabling digital shopping and rewards, communications, exhibiting one's verifiable identities and credentials, or prompting AR activations that make garments come to life. There will be entire interactivity frameworks living within our clothes, reshaping how we perceive and engage with fashion.
These four technological elements - digital fashion, AR, XR, and NFC - are indispensable to my vision of redefining how people contextualize fashion. It is by strategically combining their respective capabilities that I can bring fashion's intangible essence to the forefront, expanding perspectives on its experiential possibilities. However, manifesting this paradigm shift won't be a solitary endeavor.
I aim to build this vision in collaboration with Mismir's community. I want the brand to be regarded not as the creation of a single mind, but as an entity collectively shaped by many - a brand built for and with its people. That's why co-creation lies at the core of what I aim to breathe life into with Mismir. Just as I don't wish for fashion brands to be narrowly confined to mere garments, as a genuine brand embodies far more, I also don't want co-creation to be limited solely to product design, as many assume. Co-creation for Mismir encompasses everything - from the garments themselves to our online and physical presence, and to any other element that defines the brand's identity. I want every aspect of Mismir to be a collaborative endeavor co-created by and for its community. While Mismir may provide the initial vision and guidance, I want us all to have an equally vital voice in sculpting Mismir's ultimate direction and evolutionary journey. This collaborative approach won't just positively impact the fashion industry and world we inhabit, but our individual lives as well - a profound notion I'll expand on later. But first, a question I imagine many of you have already pondered: If you're co-creating a brand's narrative, wouldn't it be fair to reap rewards for your contributions?
We've been conditioned to believe influencers are solely those with enormous followings who wield significant reach on social media and, by extension, the real world. This belief is upheld by all parties - brands and consumers alike seem to support it, given we primarily see these mega-influencers being compensated by brands for wearing or promoting products. Yet I would argue that each of us is an influencer in our own right. We all exercise an influential impact on others in myriad ways, essentially serving as de facto marketers for the brands we love and wear. But how often do we receive recognition or rewards from those brands for the invaluable promotion we provide completely free? Hardly ever. This is a paradigm ripe for disruption - one I aim to upend through Mismir.
Initially, this reframed influencer model of compensating for promotion and storytelling will be limited solely to those who own The Prologue, Mismir's introductory garment marking our transformative journey's genesis. Over time, however, it will expand to encompass more community members through collective decision-making. As The Prologue owners are those I'll be collaborating with to craft Mismir's narrative course, it's my conviction that the brand's growth should equitably benefit not just myself or the entity, but all stakeholders involved in co-creating its trajectory. Whether that means wearing and showcasing garments, posting them across social channels, being involved in designing future collections, or contributing imaginative ideas for what we should create or do next - every contribution holds a value that will be quantified and rewarded. You'll become recognized influencers advancing Mismir's mission from within and beyond, irrespective of follower counts. We're not just reshaping fashion's narrative, but redefining what and who an "influencer" is.
But there is one elemental truth that can never be taken away from an influencer - their identity. Each influencer has painstakingly crafted a unique persona, and it is through the authenticity of that identity that they manage to inspire others. And you too possess such an identity - one that exists across both digital and physical realms, perhaps fluidly intertwined or more siloed. Yet whenever you meet someone new who inquires about aspects of your persona, or when they want to learn more about the totality of who you are, how remarkable would it be if you could showcase your comprehensive digital identity directly through the garment you're wearing?
As an advocate for blockchain technology's potential to create a more transparent, immutable, and permanently persistent world, I believe the time is ripe to make our digital identities exist on-chain. Imagine the prowess of being able to seamlessly access all your crypto bags and history, NFT collections, and mint, buy, sell, or interact with decentralized apps - all directly through your garment. What if your reputation scores across networks like Lens or Farcaster were dynamically shown as well? While an abundance of personal data, I envision it being synthesized and conveyed in an elegantly seamless way that inspires wonder in others about the authentic depths of your identity, simply by witnessing what you're wearing. This garment-based identity canvas could create unified efficiency by consolidating all those fragmented app experiences and data sources into one cohesive, customizable interface that's just a tap away. How cool would that be?
All the elements previously introduced catalyzed my broader conceptualization of garments as digital platforms. More than just displaying information, I foresee our clothes as multifunctional conduit environments where you can co-create, shop, chat, purchase, play, post, mint, collect - or frankly, engage in any other digitally-enabled experience you can imagine. Rather than a simple static page linked to the garment, an entire explorable digital world would exist within each piece, tailored to your desires.
This is the ambitious frontier toward which Mismir is oriented. While my mind overflows with aspirational ideas I'm eager to breathe life into, I'll readily admit to not yet having the resources to fully build out the infrastructural backends and interfaces required. However, by working with IYK - the brand I see as the current forefront in chipped products - I'm confident we can realize these garment-bound digital worlds sooner than anyone expects.
Garments themselves will transcend being confined as mere physical cloth. They will become richly interactive experiences, social nexus hubs, and consolidating interfaces that unify the disparate apps and digital lives we currently spread across devices/apps into one cohesive, wearable ecosystem. We will ultimately reach a point where people seamlessly inhabit these garment-enabled digital realms without even consciously recognizing the technological capabilities allowing it. The transformative experiences will replace awareness of the enabling innovations.
Even more exciting than this vision of garments as digital platforms is my ambition to breathe life into an entirely new concept I call Storyloom Products. A notion where the woven threads of physical fashion intertwine with the narratives of our lives, creating a tapestry imbued with layered meaning and unrestrained self-expression. For me, a “story” represents the elemental essence that breathes vibrance into the very fabric of existence, narrating the arcs of our joys, struggles, and triumphs. While a “loom” by definition, is the instrument through which threads become woven into cloth. “Storyloom” is the alchemical fusion of these two components - a conduit through which the stories shaping our identities and experiences become intrinsically woven into fashion's tangible fabric.
It is an exploratory journey where each garment transcends being a mere clothing item to become a dynamic canvas upon which the narratives of the wearer's life can be rendered and evolve. You can conceptualize these Storyloom products as an amalgamation encompassing many of the technological elements and possibilities I've outlined - digitally expressed, extended reality-enabled, identity-baring, co-created by the community, and more. It is through their cohesive functionalities that the deeper stories imbuing each garment can manifest in palpable, reimagined ways. While Mismir will initially offer a singular prologue piece, every following Storyloom release will bear a unique, continually evolving essence. Aspects of the products themselves may iteratively evolve, or entirely new pieces may emerge - each one indelibly embellished with the namesake story and identity of its owner. Some evolutions will arise through our collaborative efforts, while others will be highly individualized, and shaped by the personal experiences and journeys of each wearer. More than just broadening perceptions around fashion's horizons, my ultimate aspiration with Storyloom Products is for them to become tangible “vessels” encapsulating humanity's eternally evolving tapestries of identity and experience.
Before concluding this exploration of how I aim to redefine fashion's frontiers, I feel compelled to mention one more aspect. You know, before streetwear's mainstream emergence, the subculture phenomenon itself was clumsily dubbed “skurban”. An awful label in retrospect that no one today can fathom having acceptable usage, despite originally combining two predominant streetwear influences at the time. It just never resonated; a failed attempt at acronym-ing a far richer movement.
Well, in my perspective, the modern era's equivalent of “skurban” is the term “phygital”. While its recent usage has been contextually logical as the digital and physical worlds have increasingly converged, I firmly believe our collective creativity as a community can conceive a more elegant, resonant terminology to characterize this paradigm shift. Perhaps each brand will ultimately craft its own unique framing, much as I aim to do with “Storyloom”. New words and conceptual products will be coined to more authentically capture the phenomena we are shaping.
What you've read above represents the core technological elements and conceptual visions I aim to leverage in redefining fashion's horizons with Mismir. But I want to emphasize that these elements won't simply exist as separate components - they will all culminate in the form of highly fashionable, desirable garments and accessory products designed for our daily lived experiences. Certain facets like embedded NFC chips and co-creation frameworks can be implemented earlier, while more complex integrations of AR/XR layers or unified identity portrayal within garments may take time to fully materialize as resources and supporting innovations grow in parallel.
Regardless, each of these elements represents an indispensable part of fashion's future trajectory. While some brands may opt to fully synthesize them all, others may prioritize activating just a subset to ignite their own transformative impact. As for Mismir, in May 2024, this is the ambitious vision I've outlined. However, I'm constantly learning, exploring, and discovering - so this rendered vision will inevitably evolve, whether through the incorporation of entirely new elements or iterative refinements to those I've articulated. The narrative around fashion's leading edge will continuously be reimagined and rewritten.
But most essentially, beyond the tech itself, what underpins every aspect of Mismir's work is an elemental philosophy of love, kindness, empathy, and an unrelenting drive toward enabling deeper human expression, soulful connection, and the empowerment of all individuals to live the life they desire and deserve. It is with these virtuous values and aspirations at the very core that I aim to not just disrupt fashion, but leverage its potential to positively impact all facets of life itself…
Life's New Canvas
When I think about life, I often reflect on the society we live in. I understand that life encompasses much more than just our social surroundings, but I believe that, whether we like it or not, the people around us and the way we engage with them significantly influence our lives. What I see in today’s society is greed, competition, and foolishness. Greed manifests as everyone prioritizes “me” over “us,” willing to do anything to ensure their own benefit. Collaboration used to be a form of healthy competition, one where we competed to win; today, collaborations have turned into toxic competition, where the primary goal isn't to win but to make others lose.
I mention foolishness with all the love I have, specifically referring to the relentless pursuit of money. People have allowed external influences to convince them that only money and material possessions can make them wealthy, and they want this wealth as quickly as possible. In my opinion, true wealth comes from within. It is found in the deepest parts of our souls, not in something as elusive as money. True wealth, to me, comes from doing what we love. If I were to consider who in our society could bring about change, it would be artists—the very individuals who have become undervalued in today’s world. Throughout history, artists have had the most significant impact on society, yet they have the least voice today. This needs to change.
If there is a way through which I aim to redefine life through Mismir, it would be by addressing the issues I’ve mentioned above. While it is a big dream, I am not seeking the change itself; if I can plant the seed of change in some people's hearts by the end of my story, my mission will be accomplished. I will know that I have done what I needed to do to leave society better than I found it.
Story Stitchers is perhaps the most significant initiative I aim to bring to life through Mismir, and I believe it will play a crucial role in creating the shift many of us desire. The concept behind Story Stitchers is simple: to open people’s minds and hearts to the possibility that they can make a living doing what they love, that their craft is appreciated, and that people see value in it. Additionally, it aims to enrich their community or help them create one that ensures their long-term flourishing. Allow me to explain how it works in more detail:
You embark on Mismir’s journey by acquiring The Prologue, our first garment. Once you have claimed Dremis, which lives within The Prologue, you can become part of Story Stitchers. Your turn has come. We will work together to transform your story into a graphic. We will collectively decide on the garment or product on which the graphic should be placed. We will also decide together whether you want that product to come with an NFC chip. You will have the control—as much as the infrastructure allows—to imbue the chip with whatever you want. You will provide us with your requirements, and we will fulfill them.
Each product will be sold as an NFT, ensuring you earn from those sales. For example, the smart contract will allocate 60% of royalties to you and 40% to us ( in perpetuity )—automatically, without the need for banks or intermediaries. The percentage will be decided collectively based on the costs and effort your product requires. Once the product reaches those who purchased it, you can start your journey with your new community. You can keep them engaged through the NFC chip, surprise them, and more.
Even though there are more details to this process, I’ve tried to cover as much as is needed to allow you to see how this shall work. By following this approach, I believe I can ignite a change in someone's life. Through Story Stitchers, we will achieve several goals: opening people’s minds to the possibility of making a living from their dreams by allowing them to earn real money from product sales, getting them closer to the funding they need for their dreams, and enabling them to create or enrich their community. Essentially, it taps into the elements that, in my opinion, make people feel fulfilled. Story Stitchers is the first step toward change.
Initially, Mismir will work solely with Dremis holders. However, over time, through collective decision-making, we will determine how and when to open the doors for others as well. Whenever I present this idea, people often tell me it is solely about artists; it is not. Whatever dream you may have, we will find a way to incorporate it into this initiative. We will find a way to turn it into a graphic and put it out into the world. Story Stitchers is about dreamers. For artists, specifically, there is something more...
Storied Strokes is the series I’ve wanted to bring to life since the early days of Mismir, as I am deeply affected by the way artists are perceived in today’s world. This series aims to spotlight the voices and stories of artists, encouraging people to connect with them not only as artists but also as human beings. Each interview is crafted to help readers understand both the artist’s craft and their thoughts and soul.
Each season there are 15 spotlighted voices and stories. With each season, I aim to enhance the way I present these artists. My dream is to incorporate video and audio, allowing people to read, listen, or watch—catering to different preferences and ensuring the artists’ voices and stories reach a wider audience.
This initiative will continue until the end of my journey. It is something I do with pleasure, something that brings me great joy, and something through which I believe people will start to value artists more—that’s the whole purpose of it. Season 1 and Season 2 are available to explore within our sanctuary.
While Story Stitchers and Storied Strokes are, in my eyes, two impactful initiatives that can bring visible positive change over time, I believe the most significant long-term impact will come from co-creation. I’m not just talking about co-creating garments or other brand aspects; I’m referring to co-creating relationships with one another. It’s not the future of fashion that made co-creation the core of Mismir. Instead, I believe that, with the right execution and implementation, co-creation can reveal the power and beauty of working together. This will be felt not only in the rewards or final results of their collaboration but also in the process of bringing these elements to life.
Through co-creation, I aim to foster a culture of genuine collaboration within Mismir’s ethos, one that I believe will gradually spread beyond its confines. It’s about showing people that they can work together and demonstrating what can be achieved through collaboration. I aim to highlight the difference between collaboration and individuality, showcasing what can be accomplished together rather than alone.
As I mentioned, while this can be achieved in many ways, we will ensure that co-creation is not just about earning something. Genuine collaboration will be thoroughly considered and rewarded. It’s all about the execution and implementation, which can bring about meaningful change. This is perhaps the element I am focusing on the most. I may not get it right from the beginning, but with each new implementation, I will move closer to the co-creation we desire and the one we all need.
I believe that the three elements presented, along with those discussed in the first part, have the potential to redefine life and help bring about a positive change in our world. The transformative power of the elements discussed in this second part should be evident. However, the more profound questions arise from the concepts in the first part, which I would like to explore further.
As mentioned earlier, one of my goals in leveraging the synergy of fashion, technology, and humanity is to reveal the true essence of fashion. Fashion is much more than just clothing; it is an embodiment of our identity, a statement about who we are. By understanding this, we can unlock a deeper awareness in our minds and hearts—one that fosters greater empathy and understanding toward others.
Instead of making quick judgments based on appearances, we will learn to pause and appreciate that there is a deeper story behind each garment; behind each soul. Every piece of clothing reflects something significant about the person wearing it. This shift in perspective can cultivate a more compassionate and connected society.
Another factor that convinces me that these elements can indeed bring about positive change in society is their ability to address three fundamental human desires: connection, expression, and empowerment. By intertwining fashion with life in this way, we tap into these innate needs that all individuals yearn for. When these elements are unlocked for a person, they naturally feel more fulfilled, happier, and more inclined to spread love, kindness, and empathy—values that are essential for shaping a better world.
This positive change will result from the compounded effect of various elements and actions. It's not about one singular force driving change, but rather multiple forces working collaboratively. While we may not see immediate results, our focus is on the long-term and the cumulative impact of our efforts.
Forward Bound
Elysium encapsulates the essence of Mismir, reflecting the depth of vision that propels its journey through the present and into the future. Mismir's essence, much like fashion itself, transcends mere garments and technologies; it resides in the expression, connections, empowerment, and stories it fosters. This path is not without its challenges and uncertainties, yet it is precisely the richness of this journey, the yearning to express, connect, and empower, that imbues it with meaning and propels me forward. I embrace the road ahead with courage, curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to effecting change.
Mismir beckons us to dream boldly, to challenge the status quo, and to redefine the very essence of fashion and life. It calls upon us to open our minds and hearts, recognizing that within the audacity to dream lies the boundless potential to shape a future brimming with infinite possibilities.
Together, let us craft the story of Mismir, recognizing that each phrase we add to its narrative not only shapes the future of our brand but also redefines the story of fashion and life for generations to come.
Thank you!
Eduard🌹
