Sportswear and footwear manufacturer Nike is exploring virtual material design with its iconic logo and tagline.
According to October 27 filings with the US Patent and Trademark Office, Nike has filed applications for its namesake, the swoosh logo, and the “just do it” slogan to be used on virtual products for its retail services. entertainment, retail stores and “for use online and in virtual online worlds.” The applications, along with two recent job openings for virtual material designers, suggest that the company is laying the groundwork for Nike-branded products in the metaverse.
Nike said future employees “They would play a key role in redefining our digital world, ushering us into the metaverse.” They would join a team of virtual material designers in the company’s digital product creation group to create virtual footwear and other products.
The clothing company appears to have launched its foray into the metaverse ahead of Facebook’s renaming announcement on October 28. The social media giant said it would create a virtual environment that would connect social experiences online with the real world.
While Nike appears to be advancing its metaverse plans at the same time as Facebook, it has already delved into non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, and other cryptocurrency-related businesses. In 2019, the company patented a system to tokenize its CryptoKicks sneakers on the Ethereum blockchain.
However, the company already has some competition in the metaverse. Sneaker brand RTFKT Studios has launched virtual and physical footwear and was supported by Andreessen Horowitz, Galaxy Digital and others in an $ 8 million fundraising round held in mid-May.
While Nike’s virtual offerings are unaffected by global supply chain issues, the company has reported problems in the delivery of its physical products, such as shipping container shortages, personnel issues, and other related restrictions. with the pandemic affecting work flow. Indonesia and Vietnam are responsible for most of Nike’s physical footwear production, but virtual offerings can be built entirely at its Oregon headquarters.
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