Written by

Ida Piker
July 11, 2016

The 7 Most Innovative 3D Printed Fashion Items

"Poseidon: a 3D printed exoskeleton" by Hillary Sampliner

3D printing technology, which was invented in the 1980s, has helped the architecture and medical industries create models and prototypes for decades. Otherwise known as additive manufacturing, 3D printers use 3D models of items and print them in several hundred or thousand 2D slices, layer by layer. Recent advances in the technology has caused the price of 3D printers to plummet and has made them much more accessible. In fact, they have become so widespread that the market value is estimated to grow to $16.2 billion by 2018.[1] The fashion industry has begun to take note 3D printing and its capabilities. Some designers and brands are taking on the challenge of creating innovative designs with this newe technology. The results? They’re remarkable. Read on to find out how 3D printing  has affected the fashion industry.

1.  The “Braindrain” Dress

3D printed items, Fashion, Braindrain dress,

source: twitter

The “Braindrain” dress which was designed by Maartje Dijkstra, a Dutch Avant Garde fashion designer, is an extravagant work of art.[2] The design was inspired by a 150-year-old traditional Dutch Groningen costume and displays the sharp contrast between the past and future of fashion. With no intention of being ready-to-wear, the dress has a unique shape and intricate detailing that only a 3D printer could have created. When “Braindrain” walks down the runway, it is an immersive experience of electronic music, lights, and architecture. “What makes 3D printing amazing is that you can design whatever you want,” says Dijkstra. “There are hardly any boundaries of what is possible.”[2] She plans to employ 3D printing technology in the near future as her designs become more complex.

2.  Feetz

:3D printed items, Fashion, Feetz,

source: twitter

Feetz, a custom footwear retailer and manufacturer, prides itself on being the first company to create 3D printed shoes.[3] Purchasing a pair is easy. Consumers can visit the company’s website to choose a style and place an order. To ensure the perfect fit, they can use Feetz’ Size Me app to create models of their feet in 22 dimensions. The models are then sent to Feetz’ “digital cobblers,” who use 3D printing technology to manufacture the shoes.[4] The shoes are sustainably made from recyclable material in the USA. On June 8, Feetz announced a partnership with DSW Inc., a footwear retailer.[5] The combination of Feetz’ pioneering technology and DSW’s customer base means that consumers can look forward to sustainable and affordable custom-fitting shoes.

3.  Online shopping revamped

3D printed items, Fashion, Online shopping, Continuum,

source: constrcvt

Continuum, a design lab and clothing manufacturer based in San Francisco, is attempting to change how consumers buy clothes.[6] Customers can visit the company’s website to manipulate images of clothing, alter the design to fit his or her body and purchase the garment. Founder Mary Huang and her partner Jenna Fizel print the designs using a 3D printer and sew the pieces of the garment together. Continuum manufactures a variety of items, including bikinis, shoes, and dresses. Even though Continuum’s clothing is pricey, consumers have the option to use Continuum’s database to print out clothing with their own printer, for free.

4.  Creating Textiles

3D printed items, Fashion, Creating textiles,

source: Danit Peleg

One of the challenges facing designers that use 3D technology face the stiffness of the material.[7] Many of the garments produced are impractical and can only be worn on the runway. Despite this difficulty, fashion designer Danit Peleg managed to develop a collection of ready-to-wear items using flexible 3D printed textiles. Peleg discovered FilaFlex, a strong and flexible filament, thenused it to create lace-like textiles. After spending over 2000 hours printing textiles from her own home, Peleg was able to use the material to create a full collection. So that her models wore only 3D printed clothing down the runway, Peleg printed out shoes to match her collection.

5.  Printed Jewelry

3D printed items, Fashion, Printed jewelry,

source: american pearl

American Pearl, a jewelry store founded in the 1950s, has found a unique and modern approach to compete with jewelers abroad: 3D printing.[8] American Pearl’s new business strategy cuts down on labor and production costs by allowing consumers the chance to create unique pieces of jewelry in real-time. American Pearl gives their customers the ability to choose each element of the design. For example, a customer can design a unique engagement ring by choosing among a variety of metals for the band, side-stones, and diamonds. Additional options include the cut, weight and clarity of the precious stones. A 3D model of the engagement ring is then created and printed out with thermoplastic wax. This print, which serves as a mold, allows jewelers at American Pearl to pour in the metal of choice and set the stones. The finished ring will not only match the consumer’s exact specifications, but will also be delivered in 3 to 4 days. Competitors, who charge more for the same product, can take weeks to complete it.

6.  The “Cognitive Dress”

3D printed items, Fashion, Cognitive dress,

source: twitter

This year’s Met Gala, which was themed “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology," featured a dress designed by two giants, IBM and Marchesa. The “cognitive dress,” which was worn by model Karolina Kurkova, featured fabric flowers with LED lights that changed color based on Twitter users’ reactions to the event.[9] IBM’s impressive Watson Color Theory Tool helped Marchesa designers choose which colors would reflect viewers’ emotions.[10] To illustrate, if the dominant emotion of Kurkova’s Twitter followers was joy, the dress turned red, and if they felt excitement, it turned aqua. Designers also utilized Watson’s ability to analyze large quantities of data to choose the best material for the dress.[10] "This is an opportunity to show how technology can help us push the boundaries of creativity and have an interactive dress that's a piece of art and a conversational piece as well — something that's almost living and breathing," says Georgina Chapman, the founder of Marchesa. "And to us, that was just a magical idea."[10]

7. Nike Cleats

3D printed items, Fashion, Nike cleats,

source: nike

Nike has developed a collection of 3D printed sneakers to help athletes optimize their skills.[11] The three cleats are each unique in their capabilities. The Nike Vapor Laser Talon cleat enhances linear speed, the Nike Vapor HyperAgility cleat helps players accelerate while running the shuttle drill, and the Nike Vapor Carbon II assists with 360 degree speed. Nike’s plate and traction systems are lightweight and can be manufactured very quickly. Additionally, if manufacturers want to update their designs, they can do so within hours instead of months. 3D printing technology has revolutionized the way Nike designs its sneakers and has given Nike the means to modernize the athletic footwear of one of the world’s most popular sports.

As 3D printing technology continues to evolve, grow, and innovate, it’s anyone guess what the future of 3D printing will be and where it will lead us.


 

 

Written by

Ida Piker

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