In the limitless expanse of the Metaverse, a new frontier of fashion is being tailored. Enter the ‘Metaverse Chic’ realm, where one pioneering individual skillfully embroiders the line between digital and physical. Meet Michele Zanello, an innovator, fashion enthusiast, and technophile from Latisana, spinning style threads into the virtual universe’s fabric.

Hailing from Latisana, and born on February 26, 1995, Zanello kickstarted his career in 2015, sprucing up the image of various Italian venues as a social media and event management. Never one to be confined by physical reality, his passion for innovation and creative instincts led him to establish the Midnight Milano Society in 2020. Under Zanello’s astute leadership, this avant-garde agency strategically shaped the public personas of musicians, showbiz personalities, and celebrities, stitching together a cohesive, attractive, and virtual narrative for each.

However, the game-changer arrived in 2021 when Zanello crossed paths with Davide Cuttini and Diego di Tommaso. Enchanted by the transformative potential of their platform, Over The Reality, Zanello envisioned a new entertainment horizon. He packed up his ambition and creative drive and plunged headfirst into the Metaverse as the Head of Metaverse Event & Relations.

There, he found an untapped canvas to fuse his love for fashion, music, and technology, opening doors to previously unimaginable experiences. Zanello began orchestrating unique events and managing relationships in the most expansive augmented reality Metaverse known to man. With him at the helm, the boundaries of what was conceivable within the Metaverse began to expand.

The crowning glory of Zanello’s virtual fashion voyage arrived in March 2023. In a move that proved to be as audacious as it was innovative, he assumed the role of project manager for the Metaverse Fashion Week. His creation? The world’s first hybrid catwalk was staged against the splendid backdrop of the Milan Cathedral.

This was no ordinary catwalk, and it was not just about the stunning holographic models strutting across the virtual runway. This was a seismic shift in fashion’s paradigm. Zanello’s hybrid catwalk brought together some of the biggest names in fashion, like Pinko, Space Runners x Balmain, Xr Couture, and Pet Liger, each showcasing their creations as part of the illustrious Gucci Vault collection, titled “The next 100 years of Gucci”.

By placing the Metaverse on Milan’s high-fashion map, Zanello didn’t merely create an event. He made a moment when the real and virtual intertwined, where tradition met innovation and fashion ventured into the digital realm. According to Forbes, it was a moment that earned him a place in the annals of Milan’s history.

Zanello’s disruptive yet elegant approach reverberated throughout the Metaverse, shaping its fashion-forward identity. He has become a critical conduit between high fashion brands and this nascent digital domain, championing the fusion of the tangible and virtual. This pioneering role vaulted him into the pantheon of innovators, his name whispered in hushed tones of reverence in fashion houses and virtual reality startups alike. With his visionary insight and unwavering dedication, Michele Zanello has written the next chapter of fashion in the virtual realm.

Featured image: Michele Zanello

Categories: Music