On the idea of self-expression and an extension of personality in the given digital ambiance, Xing Yujia, and Ziqi Xing initiated a collective flux for a sustainable and upscaled expression through their digital fashion brand, Xtended Identity, That invites people to experience phygital (Physical + digital) fashion in a world that is no less of an amusement.

Xtended Identity is to say an extended version of the self. Why did you feel this was and is important?

In the internet era, people have multiple identities: their physical and their digital selves. XTENDED iDENTiTY focuses on enabling people to express themselves freely in the digital world, through digital fashion. It is an innovative and sustainable means of self-expression.

What role does gender fluidity play for you?

We design clothes and accessories for all genders, sizes, and races without limitations. Given digital fashion is boundless and not restricted by any physical laws, we find it important to not carry the standards of physical fashion into this free space. We strive for exclusivity and accessibility for everyone within our brand identity and design and believe digital fashion should not have any entry barriers.

Fashion as a medium to create identity exposure, What various other mediums do you work through that help you to do what you do?

Fashion is accessible to everyone, and has historically been a tool for self-expression and rebellion for women and the LGBTQ+ community. Another medium we work with that helps us create identity exposure is Augmented Reality. It is a free, easy-to-use, and accessible technological affordance. It simply requires a phone and Web 2.0 media. AR filters are inclusive and do not discriminate or limit the user, they’ve now even created filters you can use on your pets or inanimate objects. This kind of AR technology can work hand in hand with digital fashion.

The creative process is my way of meditation at times. I wonder how it would feel to work in your studio. Can you please describe the ambiance you work in? What kind of challenges do you go through on a regular basis?

We work from home. Similarly to Web.3 and the metaverse, we are all connected remotely from our phones and computers. We like this model since it allows us to not be limited by geography, or even time zones and nurtures a free and collaborative atmosphere. Our team is international with people based in the UK, Germany, the US, and China. The biggest challenge we face as a team is creating a consistent community, bridging cultures, languages, and time zones to share ideas and foster a sense of belonging.

An exaggerated personality is much more possible now that we have the support of technology. Do you fear anything of the world that is on its way to being experienced in the physical?

No matter how successful and popular the metaverse becomes, we will still be bound to the physical world, physical interactions, and our physical needs. We have to live in the physical world, so I am not too worried about any Web 3.0 drastically changing our social realities. Instead, we think it's important to draw creative and fun connections between the physical, Web 2.0, and Web 3.0 as we have done with our Phygital garments.

What is the extremism of the digital environment you envision for us? What do you think 2050 would like for fashion?

To build on my previous point, we think connecting the physical and digital worlds is the future. Our concept of phygital fashion combines physical garments, with matching digital elements through CGI and AR technologies. The key is to find creative and innovative ways to play with combining our physical and digital selves.

How much do spirituality or such philosophies impact the way you proceed with your ideas? What intentions do you entail? What made you work on the Love Warrior collection that was launched recently on 11.11.22?

Our intention with XTENDED iDENTITY is to provide a more accessible entryway into the crypto world and Web 3.0 through digital fashion. When you look at the Web 3. 0 crypto world, most users are crypto nerds who already know a lot about it. But the average person on the internet doesn’t have understanding or access to those spaces. This is why XTENDED iDENTiTY’s NFTs have two functions: rent and own, designed to onboard web 2 users without digital wallets.
Our Love Warrior collection was inspired by the mythical creature, the unicorn, and key messages from Sally Hines's book 'Is Gender Fluid'.

Last but not least… What innovation are you looking forward to incorporating in the coming future?

We’re excited to combine VR & XR technologies into the world of fashion and gaming. We see big potential for users to utilize digital fashion NFTs and dress up their avatars and use different technologies to make the experience more interactive. For instance, gamers could have real-life projections of their bodies, with XTENDED iDENTiTY digital clothes projected onto them. We also see a lot of potential for phygital fashion, which could revolutionize the way we think about fashion and the relationship between our digital and physical selves.