The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2024 - Issue 35

bitefashion E lden Ring may sound like a sought-after treasure from The Lord of The Rings sequels. Still, it’s the name of an action role-playing game set in the third-person perspective developed by FromSoftware and directed by Japanese designer and writer Hidetaka Miyazaki. Its world- building is provided by fantasy writer George R. R. Martin, author of the epic fantasy novel A Song of Ice and Fire , adapted into the Emmy Award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones and its prequel series House of the Dragon . Inspired by the iconic game, creative director Dimitri van Eetvelde, who founded ARK/8 in 2019 to merge gaming and garments, produced a nine-piece AW23 streetwear collection, including a ‘Tarnished’ sweatshirt and hoodie, a bomber jacket with a print map of The Lands Between and a faux fur Rune coat. The vibrant brand, with a dynamic fusion of gaming, music, sci-fi and pop culture, embodies its passion for these realms in clothing, serving as a tangible extension of its inner creativity and zeal. “Our mission is to bring to life the diverse energies and dimensions of the worlds we love, making the unseen seen,” states the brand. “We want our community to be able to harness the boundless potential within them, tapping into the limitless power of human imagination to shape our reality. We aim to acknowledge the inherent infinity within each person through every collection. While our earthly existence may be temporary, our thoughts, dreams, and imprints live on, extending beyond our time and space.” An avid gaming fan, van Eetvelde sees video games as a means of expression as rich as cinema or music. “Video games were a kind of the discovery of something that felt incredibly new and this unique combination of sounds and visuals,” he said in a short video about his background and influences. “My mum is from Indonesia, and my dad is from Belgium, [so] I’ve always had this mixed heritage, and my heart’s always been split between the two continents.” He revealed he started going to the arcades in his early teen- age years after spending three months in Indonesia yearly. “That was a formative experience for me,” he added. “I’ve always been fascinated by game designers’ creativity when creating fashion in gaming because it was always a bit out there. They’re mixing inspirations from completely different worlds and turning them into something unique and new.” Besides Elden Ring , ARK/8 has collaborated with gam- ing franchises Resident Evil, Overwatch, and Dark Souls, blending pop culture with high fashion through luxury fabrics, sleek silhouettes and bold graphics. From Busan to Hanamura, South Korean and Japanese cities fuse futuristic racing aesthetics and tech-inspired designs into beautiful wearable pieces. The standout D.Va Longsleeve Body Suit is a structured bodysuit in synthetic fabric with an overprint- ed replica of D.Va’s Overwatch 2 suit. Cyber Demon Sweater in heavyweight organic cotton fleece has an exclusive multi-panel digital print of Genji’s Cyber Demon Dragon with tonal embroidered Overwatch and ARK/8 logos on the front and back. Similarly, the Genji Hoodie in the exact fabric has Genji prints, ribbed detailing, and large sleeve pockets with Lampo metal zippers. D.Va Tokki Track Jacket and Pants feature Overwatch 2 ’s D.Va unique skin Tokki details and embroidered logos on the sleeves and chest with orange piping and pattern print. Inspired by Dead Island 2 , the city of Los Angeles’ vibe shines through the Hell-A collection, demonstrating bold urban designs with an added touch of USA college style. The VCLA Sweater in heavyweight organic cotton fleece features the VCLA Bobcats logo, mascot embroidery patch on the chest and back, and the ARK/8 patch on the sleeve. The Palm Trees Kata Sweatshirt is made from the same fabric and has broad shoulder detailing, a Palm print, and white ARK/8 branding at the collar. Koyorin x Overwatch 2’s seamless backdrop of the Hara- juku streets of Japan is created with playful use of colour and characters from Overwatch 2 . It features heavyweight