At London Fashion Week this September, Portal: M, a Taiwan-based fashion technology platform, captivated audiences with a groundbreaking virtual fashion exhibition. Transforming Shoreditch’s Protein Studios into a grocery store-themed wonderland, Portal: M offered an immersive experience that blurred the lines between the digital and physical worlds. The brand redefined the traditional runway by inviting guests into an interactive digital space that felt like a futuristic shopping experience.
Portal: M’s exhibition was more than just a show- it was a vision of the future of fashion. Visitors to the exhibition could “shop” for digital design elements—anything from zippers to a range of digitised fabrics—directly on the platform and create their own pieces, turning anyone into a fashion designer. The platform’s goal is to make high-level fashion creation accessible to all, by allowing them to work with materials that may be inaccessible or expensive to enable more inclusivity in the industry.
With 92 million tonnes of textile waste produced every year, Portal: M’s digital tools eliminate the need for physical samples and support virtual try-ons to lead the way toward a more sustainable future for fashion.
To understand the mission and vision behind this platform, I interviewed Alan Liu, Co-Founder of Portal: M and the Portal: M team, who shared insights on how digital fashion could reshape the industry and redefine consumer interactions with clothing.
Interview with Alan Liu of Portal: M
Q: Can you tell us about Portal: M’s mission and what inspired the platform?
“Portal: M was created to make fashion design accessible to everyone, not just those with formal training or industry connections. Our goal is to empower anyone with a vision to bring it to life in the digital realm. By offering a platform where users can experiment with designs, play with different materials, and create without waste, we’re democratising fashion in a way that feels timely and necessary. Traditional barriers to entry, like the need for costly materials or specialised knowledge, don’t exist here”.
Q: The London Fashion Week showcase had a grocery store theme. What was the idea behind that?
“We wanted to create an environment that feels familiar yet futuristic. The grocery store theme allowed us to play with the idea of accessibility and availability. Just as you would pick up items from a shelf in a store, we want users to feel they can easily pick and choose the elements they need to build their designs. It was about presenting digital fashion as something within reach, something you can ‘shop’ for without limitation”.
Q: Digital fashion is often associated with sustainability. How does Portal: M fit into this movement?
“Digital fashion addresses a lot of the waste issues inherent in traditional fashion. For instance, there’s no need to produce physical samples, which can be wasteful. We’re also enabling virtual try-ons, which reduces the need for excessive production and returns. Portal: M allows designers to experiment and consumers to experience fashion without adding to the environmental cost. We believe digital fashion can be a powerful tool for sustainable innovation in the industry”.
Q: With Portal: M’s tools, anyone can design fashion. How do you think this will impact the fashion industry as a whole?
“I think it opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Designers are no longer limited to those who can afford to produce physical collections. We’re seeing a rise in creators who can make and share designs entirely in the digital realm. This means more voices, more diversity, and more creativity in fashion. Digital fashion allows people to experiment in ways they couldn’t before, and it gives consumers a chance to engage with brands in a more interactive way. It’s about creating an ecosystem where anyone can be a designer”.
Q: Portal:M provides tools that make high-level fashion design accessible to everyone. How do you see this platform supporting students and young creatives who are just starting out in the fashion industry?
“Portal:M is committed to supporting emerging talents. We provide a valuable resource for students and young creatives to learn, experiment, and showcase their work. By offering tutorials, workshops, and community forums, we empower the next generation of designers to experiment, learn, and grow. Additionally, we facilitate connections between these young talents with industry professionals, providing opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and job placement.”
The Future of Fashion: Is Digital the Way Forward?
The rapid evolution of digital fashion technology has sparked debate in the industry about whether this shift is positive. On one hand, platforms like Portal: M are championing for an end to fast-fashion and large-scale overproduction. These lead to considerable waste and digital fashion offers a promising alternative that could be a revolutionary move from both an ethical and eco-conscious perspective. As well as this, digital fashion can empower consumers to become creators and allow a wider range of people to participate in the fashion industry without the costs that come with it. It opens up doors to diverse voices, creativity, and experimentation, potentially transforming fashion from an exclusive industry to an inclusive community of creatives.
However, as digital fashion grows, there are questions about how it will coexist with traditional design methods. Will it completely replace physical designers and tactile clothing? Could runways and exhibitions move to an online space? It does, however, seem like a logical step as more and more forms of art transition to being more cyber-based.
Still, as the industry continues to explore the possibilities, platforms like Portal: M are proving that digital fashion is more than a passing trend—it’s a movement with the potential to redefine what we wear, how we design, and how we engage with fashion. Portal: M’s presence at London Fashion Week marks a significant, perhaps even historical moment for fashion. It shows that virtual fashion is not just the future; it’s here, reshaping the world as we know it and inviting everyone to take part.
You can check out Portal: M here and have a go at designing!
