3D Printing in Fashion: Customization, Mass Customization, and Sustainable Production
Thinking Out Loud #4
Greetings fellow readers!?
I am back with another addition to this weekly series that will let you have a look into the future of technology in fashion. You will be seeing more articles on it in the near future. In this segment, you will get to explore the future trends in fashion with me and ponder on all the ‘what-ifs’.
If you are familiar with Dutch Designer, Iris Van Herpen’s name and work, then you need no introduction to 3D fashion aka additive manufacturing. To all the lovers of fashion tech, this article is just for you.??
For those who are still unaware, the process of 3D printing involves joining different kinds of materials together using a computer to make a three-dimensional object. The glass ceiling of mass-produced monotony is about to be shattered by this revolutionary movement, which is far from a passing fad. As someone who is very interested in this change in fashion, I can't help but feel a thrill going through me.
Designer Vaishali S. caught everyone’s attention by using 3D mounted flowers on her dresses back in 2022. Another Indian designer to try his hands on this amusing tech was Gaurav Gupta who was the talk of the town for his custom-made royal blue cutout sculptural 3D dress with a trail and headgear made for American rapper Cardi B.?
Envision, if you will, sarees woven from the threads of eco-conscious aspirations, lehengas woven from the fabric of joyful family history, and jackets decorated with designs as elaborate as Mughal miniatures. This is the birth of a new era, my dear fashion enthusiast. Join me in taking a spool of digital imagination and making our fashion legacies. One custom-made masterpiece at a time, we can shape the fashion industry's future.
In 2015, Danit Peleg became the first designer in the world to create an entire collection using desktop 3D home printers for her graduate project at Shenkar College of Engineering and Design. What made her famous was the use of material FilaFlex, a new kind of filament that is both strong and flexible. That’s where it all began.?
Just imagine going into a store, having your body scanned, and picking out a dress that is 3D-printed to fit your shapes like a second skin. No more fitting into store-bought sizes or giving up style for comfort. 3D printing gives you the power to become your own story's protagonist—the one who dresses to impress, the inspiration behind every detail, and the designer. This isn't merely about self-indulgence; it's about embracing diversity and giving everyone the confidence to express themselves through their clothing.
Furthermore, the appropriate application of this technology in athletic apparel will have a significant positive impact. In fact, Adidas has been working on this idea since 2015. By analyzing data from a large number of athletes, they were able to create a shoe that provides the optimal fit for any runner. They are still testing out various iterations and adjustments to this 3D-printed shoe presently.
But here's the best part: it's more than simply a fairy tale about high fashion. Customization on a large scale is possible. There is a way for brands to provide affordable customization options. “3D printing does not require any moulds or specific tools that normally are needed for traditional manufacturing methods,” says an article by Sculpteo. When companies go through mass customization, one of the most important things they have to do is set up a flexible production process. This benefit can aid them in doing this. It explains further by adding that customers can make changes to the 3D file right away, and then the product can go into production, as long as the right digital tools are set up. Here comes the interesting part: making 1000 3D printed objects or one 3D printed object costs the same, so mass-customized goods can be made with 3D printing without changing the cost.
For instance, Poltrona Frau, an exclusive Italian furniture company provides customers with a 3D tool on their website that lets them see what their furniture will look like and then make changes to it. This is how they have accomplished the goal of mass customization.
Imagine garments with elaborate decorations, custom prints, or even modular designs that allow you to create multiple outfits from one. Everybody wins: consumers get one-of-a-kind items, and businesses don't have to worry about surplus manufacture or unsold stock.
Now, let's talk about sustainability. The fashion industry is a notorious polluter, but 3D printing offers a glimmer of hope. By printing on demand, we ditch the wasteful, linear production model. A fabulous example of this is ZER, a Spanish fashion brand. Using a variety of 3D printers, they create unique patterns and print out exactly what they need. This way, they can reduce resource waste per garment and make sure their production process isn't harmful to the environment. Another example is the first “Zero Waste” 3D printed personalized skirt by Julia Daviy which produces less than 1% waste during the production process by using recyclable filaments.
Vishal Janakiraman shows concern in his article by writing that “3D printers accept only certain materials for printing.” But, we can explore eco-friendly materials like bioplastics and recycled filaments. This reminds me of Iris van Herpen’s haute couture dress constructed from ocean plastic fabric produced by Parley for the Oceans. According to an article published by dezeen, “As much as eight million tonnes of plastic trash end up in our seas every year, and this material is made from that trash. Plastic trash from beaches and seas is picked up by Parley for the seas and then shredded and reworked into yarn.” Imagine sarees spun from waste plastic, or lehenga cholis blooming with locally sourced, biodegradable materials. It's a future where fashion doesn't cost the Earth.
Needless to say, problems still exist. There are some problems we need to solve, like printing speed, limited materials, and easier access. Still, you can't ignore the possibilities. It's possible that 3D printing will make fashion more accessible to everyone, celebrate individualism, and be better for the environment. India needs to buckle up! Get ready to show off our eco-chic style because the runway of the future is being printed.
How about we start a discussion? What do you think about the use of 3D printers in Indian fashion? Leave your thoughts in the box below!
#Futureoffashion #3Dprintedfashion #fashiontech