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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
Book cover


Fashion x eSport - Cooperation

Author

Term

4. term

Publication year

2019

Abstract

Esports and gaming have become a global entertainment and business arena where professional players, major investments, and large-scale online and in-person events have normalized gaming as a lifestyle. This thesis examines how the fashion industry can collaborate with esports: whether there is community demand, how fashion products are perceived, and whether such collaboration is a sound business strategy. Using a combination of netnographic community insight, a review of existing partnerships (e.g., Nike x League of Legends, Adidas x North, Astralis x Jack & Jones), and strategic frameworks including the Ansoff Matrix, Product Life Cycle, and the Marketing Mix (4Ps), the study maps potential entry routes. It develops three business avenues— in-game microtransactions, accessories, and apparel—alongside an influencer/ambassador strategy and risk assessment. A key insight is that the esports community is close-knit and often skeptical of outsiders; fashion brands should therefore engage authentically, listen to experienced members, and work with relevant key actors to create mutual value and mitigate online backlash. Rather than reporting quantified outcomes, the thesis outlines practical guidance and concrete proposals to help fashion companies make informed decisions about entering the esports market.

ESport og gaming har udviklet sig til en global underholdnings- og forretningsarena, hvor professionelle spillere, store investeringer og massive online og fysiske events har normaliseret gaming som livsstil. Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan modebranchen kan samarbejde med eSport: om der er efterspørgsel i miljøet, hvordan fællesskabet opfatter modeprodukter, og om samarbejdet er en klog forretningsstrategi. Gennem en kombination af netnografisk indsamling af community-indsigt, en gennemgang af eksisterende partnerskaber (fx Nike x League of Legends, Adidas x North, Astralis x Jack & Jones) og anvendelse af strategiske rammer som Ansoff-matricen, produktlivscyklus og marketingmix (4P’er), kortlægger specialet mulige markedsindgange. Det udvikler tre forretningsspor – mikrotransaktioner i spil, accessories og beklædning – samt en influencer-/ambassadørstrategi og en risikovurdering. En central pointe er, at eSport-fællesskabet er tæt og ofte skeptisk over for udefrakommende aktører; modebrands bør derfor engagere sig ægte, lytte til erfarne medlemmer og samarbejde med relevante nøglepersoner for at opnå gensidig værdi og undgå negativ tilbagemelding online. Frem for at fremlægge kvantificerede resultater skitserer specialet praksisnære retningslinjer og konkrete forslag, der kan hjælpe modevirksomheder med at træffe informerede beslutninger om indtræden på eSport-markedet.

[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]