Four new fashion pieces made through 3D printing

3D printing has revolutionised many industries by offering a whole new way to produce complex designs from an ever-increasing range of materials. Processes like rapid prototyping have allowed fashion designers to cheaply manufacture small orders at a fraction of the price of other computer-aided design methods like CNC machining. With such complex, custom designs now so readily available, fashion designers have come up with some amazing pieces. 

The Gems of the Ocean Dress

This beautiful gown is one of the first ever full-length dresses to be 3D printed. The gown, which was designed by Samuel Canning and Melinda Looi, has been printed in one complete part and has additional accessories that follow an unusual and captivating mermaid theme. 

The Synapse Dress

Anouk Wipprecht is one of the most prevalent 3D printing fashion designers. His Synapse Dress is capable of performing a range of surprising functions, all printed by an Intel Edison 3D printer. Firstly, it has proximity sensors that can alert people, with sections of the cloth lighting up when they have come too close to the wearer and are invading their personal space. Secondly, it can sense the wearer’s level of attention, so when they are focused on a lengthy task that requires concentration it can alert others not to distract them. It is easy to see how sensors like these could be useful for a whole range of commercial and industrial uses. 

The Seamless Jacket

The designers at Ministry of Supply have created the first-ever seamless jacket, now available to buy for $250. The seamless design means the jacket is extremely comfortable to wear, especially as it is possible to 3D print it completely custom for the wearer’s size and body shape. A seamless design like this has never been possible without 3D printing technology and, as the process is so much more precise, 15-30% of material is saved every time. 

The Futurecraft 4D Trainer

Footwear manufactures Adidas has joined forces with Carbon, a 3D printing company, to create the first-ever trainer with a 3D printed midsole for mass production. This new midsole offers a special design based on years of research from the running shoe specialists at Adidas. Such careful calculations and production mean this shoe is able to offer the kind of performance for runners that would be impossible without 3D printing.

3D printing may be the future or fashion, offering new styles, designs and functionalities while also reducing manufacturers’ harmful impact on the environment. With so much going for it, and prolific fashion designers now recognising its potential, we can expect to see more examples on the catwalk at the next fashion week.

The editorial unit