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Balmain Casts CGI Models For Its Latest Campaign As It Expands Its Virtual Army
By Yoon Sann Wong, 31 Aug 2018

Could CGI models become increasingly common in fashion’s future?
So far you’ve seen the 19-year-old social media influencer Lil Miquela, who boasts north of 1.4 million Instagram followers and models in labels such as Chanel and Vetements, only she’s a virtual avatar. This however hasn’t stopped her from making her foray into music through collaboration with American record producer Baauer.
Then there’s ‘Shudu’, the “world’s first” digital supermodel who looks extraordinarily realistic.
If you thought digital models wouldn’t venture very far into the fashion realm, Balmain has a surprise for you. It’s casted three CGI models for its pre-fall 2018 digital campaign, where the creator of ‘Shudu’ has specially developed two of these.
Balmain’s creative director Olivier Rousteing explained that the brand had contacted photographer Cameron-James Wilson—creator of ‘Shudu’—asking him to help the brand “construct a new, alternative and virtual Balmain Army.”
Thus, French ‘Margot’ and Chinese ‘Zhi’ CGI models were born. Together with ‘Shudu’, the duo stars in Balmain’s digital campaign for the collection, where the three models promote digital renditions of the clothes created by virtual fashion agency CLO.
“There’s one quality that immediately stands out when you look at the growing Balmain Army: an unfettered celebration of inclusion,” wrote the brand inside a press release. “Anyone and everyone is always welcome to join its growing ranks, they need only share our bold spirit of adventure.”
A post shared by BALMAIN (@balmain) on
A post shared by BALMAIN (@balmain) on
A post shared by BALMAIN (@balmain) on
MARGOT wearing designs from the #BALMAINPF18 collection. Discover more on https://t.co/uZ8nj05hc5 #BALMAINPF18 #BALMAINARMY pic.twitter.com/zQECnJquUr
— Balmain (@Balmain) August 30, 2018
ZHI wearing #BALMAINPF18. Discover more about the new virtual army on https://t.co/uZ8nj05hc5 #BALMAINARMY pic.twitter.com/k2uHKAG2yJ
— Balmain (@Balmain) August 30, 2018
[via ELLE and Dazed Digital, main image via Balmain]
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