quick take:

• SYKY is a blockchain-enabled luxury fashion platform founded by Alice Delahunt.
• Delahunt was previously the chief digital and content officer for Ralph Lauren.
• SYKY will serve as an incubator, marketplace, and social community for the next generation of designers and consumers.

SYKY, a Web3 fashion platform founded by Alice Delahunt, has closed a $9.5 million seed round led by Alexis Ohanian’s venture capital firm, Seven Seven Six. Round participants include Brevan Howard Digital, Leadout Capital, First Light Capital Group and Polygon Ventures.

Led by Alice Delahunt, formerly Ralph Lauren’s chief digital and content officer and Burberry’s chief digital and social marketing officer, SYKY is a blockchain-enabled luxury fashion platform that will serve as an incubator, marketplace, and social community for the next generation of designers. . and consumers

SYKY was created with the digital first generation in mind, Gen Z, as this generation drives the demand for digital fashion.

A recent report from Roblox and Parsons School of Design examining digital fashion and self-expression trends found that 70% of Gen Z’s physical style is influenced by their digital style, and nearly half of Gen Z look at fashion. digital to experiment with new styles in digital and real life. Additionally, the trend report noted that nearly 75% of Gen Z said they would spend money on digital fashion.

This round of funding will further Delahunt’s vision and mission to enable this digital first generation to create, curate, share and market their fashion collections.

“Web3’s unlimited potential and the place of fashion in this future is no exception,” said Alexis Ohanian. “Fashion ideals can bring to bear the best virtues of an open internet and creative expression. With culture so heavily influenced by the runway, digital fashion will expand opportunities for creatives and consumers. We invested in Alice and SYKY because we believe in Alice’s vision of building the leading fashion platform and community for the next generation of designers and consumers.”

Along with the fundraising announcement, SYKY will be launching their first NFT, The Keystone, on January 20, with 50 Keystones being awarded to aspiring fashion designers. Keystone is a membership pass for fashionistas, leaders, and collectors who want to shape the future of fashion in the digital, physical, and augmented worlds.

Keystone holders will have exclusive access to SYKY’s membership space, digital and physical fashion events, as well as access to a network of like-minded creatives for collaboration and mentorship. In addition, Keystone holders will receive curated information and in-depth reports on fashion, exclusive opportunities for designer collection launches, and early notice of alpha and beta releases from SYKY and partner projects.

“Fashion is on the verge of a renaissance, fueled by technology and the next generation of creators,” Delahunt said. “With SYKY, our goal is to build a platform that equalizes the creative opportunities for aspiring designers, showcases the best in fashion from established and emerging brands, and cultivates a community passionate about the evolution of fashion.”

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