Marta Massi, Andrea Vocino, Chiara Piancatelli, Paola Cillo, Anna Claudia Pellicelli
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are revolutionizing luxury fashion by offering digital experiences that promise innovation, exclusivity, and sustainability. While luxury brands increasingly experiment with these technologies, little is known about how they influence consumer perceptions of sustainability, brand legitimacy, and purchase likelihood. Drawing on dematerialization theory, institutional and legitimacy theory, and the sufficiency model, this research investigates NFTs’ role in promoting sustainable consumption and brand legitimacy. Building on insights from a preliminary qualitative study, three experiments test how product type (non-NFT, NFT, digital twin) affects purchase likelihood and how perceived product sustainability and brand legitimacy moderate and mediate these effects. Study 1 shows that digital twin products combining physical and NFT components yield the highest likelihood of purchase. Study 2 finds the positive effect of NFTs strengthens when perceived product sustainability is high. Study 3 reveals perceived product sustainability acts as a boundary condition, shaping how product type influences brand legitimacy and purchase likelihood. Findings offer theoretical insights and actionable guidance for managers.