Introduction
It is nothing new to fashion; jewellery designs have used printing companies for models for years; but 3D printing is now entering mainstream fashion.
Clothing designer Catherine Wales recently took her new 3D collection of masks, corsets and helmets and exhibited them at Arnhem Mode Biennale, Netherlands.
Two more designers, Francis Bitonti and Michael Schmidt, have produced a 3D printed gown that is stunning. The garment is made of 3000 articulated joints and dotted with 12,000 Swarovski crystals. Modelled by Dita Von Teese at a presentation in February, the gown perfectly fitted her figure and the addition of Wale’s feathered shoulder piece, fluffed and fell realistically. Although this piece isn’t for the general sale it demonstrates that 3D fashion printing could soon be common.
Already here?
In May the world’s first 3D printing shop opened in London and Dr Gibbons, a 3D printing expert at Warwick University, claims it won’t be long before it becomes common on the high street. Even now there are companies that produce 3D printed works for architects, interior designers and artists.
At the moment; there seems to be a concern over quality for fashion items. Although developers for 3D printing are getting closer to developing a material that has the same feel as fabric, they haven’t got there yet. And designers will be less inclined to use 3D printing until the materials produced are of better quality.
This has created a chicken or the egg scenario.
Some designers question whether this form of production is demanded by the consumer. Anna Sheffield, a jewellery designer based in New York, has experimented with 3D printing. Although she admits that there could be some great applications for the technology she feels it is not right for her brand as she likes the little imperfections in each piece that make each of them unique.
Probably one of the best current uses of 3D printing in the fashion industry is to mix both organic materials with 3D printed items. Bitonti is currently working on 3D handbags with a stingray leather finish. This will probably be the intermediate step that fashion consumers will first see on the high street.
Young Designers
Despite the negatives there are many benefits. 3D printing could easily take control of short production runs of ready-to-wear items where financial insecurity and the consumers’ draw to the artistic aspect are major factors in the success of the fashion line.
Kimberly Ovitz, who showed off her small range of printed nylon jewellery at the New York Fashion Week in February 2013, revealed that 3D printing has transformed her production. Consumers could buy her ‘ready to wear’ jewellery immediately after the show and their orders could be delivered within two weeks.
This is great for young designers as items are printed on demand and not on expensive production runs; allowing young designers to take less of a financial risk in an industry that has a high failure rate due to the occasional botched manufacturing run and overestimation of interest. It will be these adventurous designers that will probably make the first inroads in this technology and get their 3D printed designs to the high street.
Conclusion
3D printing is bound to be something big in the future of fashion but currently it is best suited to fashion accessories and jewellery. However with the rate that technology advances, it won’t be long before print services like Document Options Limited will be offering to print out your next garment from the next courageous young fashion designer.