The Met Museum is releasing Instagram store collaborations with the likes of Virgil Abloh abd Prabal Gurung.
Although the Met Gala was postponed from May 4th, 2020, to next week due to the pandemic, its fashionably late arrival will be bolstered by new additions. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute is embracing the theme “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” by showcasing the work of modern American fashion designers. However, this time, the institute will be launching a series of capsule collections with designers to create a one-of-a-kind virtual event for shoppers.
Hosted on Vogue Magazine’s Instagram by the head of Instagram’s fashion and shopping platforms Eva Chen, the virtual event will take place on Friday and invite designers and celebrity guests onto the Instagram Live Stream to unveil their brand new collections. As an event well renowned for its exclusive invites, The Met Gala’s public ticket prices begin at $35,000. However, unlike the usual haute couture event, this free live stream will be showcasing clothes as they drop to the public. Viewers can purchase items as they release without even leaving the app by visiting @themetstore. The limited-edition merchandise will feature designs by Virgil Abloh and Prabal Gurung, Bode, Brothers Vellies, Christopher John Rodgers, Collina Strada, Gypsy Sport, and Pyer Moss. If any clothing remains after the live streams, it will be available for purchase on the museum’s online store.
Although they are still upscale, these digitally accessible partnerships with designers allow consumers to engage with the high-end fashion community. Despite the pandemic delaying Met Gala festivities, the new social media feature allows for more interaction and demonstrates a new way for museums to connect with the digital age. Over the past year, other museums and galleries have hosted digital exhibit tours, while others include ways for guests to interact via social media during shows. In the face of a pandemic, The Met Museum is connecting the masses with art through digital participation.
