September can either be a blessing or a curse. To some people, it is an exciting month when it is finally socially acceptable to indulge in their pumpkin spice obsession. But to others, September may not be so wonderful since it marks the end of those warm summer days and serves as a constant reminder of the inevitable and imminent winter. September also brings up memories of back to school shopping and picking out that “perfect outfit” to impress our new school mates that we (or our moms) picked out at the mall.
But for the who are truly tuned-in to the latest looks, fashion is also front and center in September because of Fashion Week.
For those of you who aren’t familiar, Fashion Week is a weeklong event where fashion designers and brands showcase their latest collections in runway shows. Held twice a year in February and September, the most prominent fashion week events are hosted in New York, London, Milan and Paris. Essentially, these events are a preview of what’s to come and emerging trends in the fashion industry for the coming season…and once again 3D printing is becoming a transformative technology for a prominant industry. Here’s just one example of how it’s revolutionizing the fashion landscape.
In fact, a graph by 3D Hubs, which gathers data from 21,000 3D printers across 150 countires, indicates that the demand for 3D printed objects related to Art/Fashion increased to $46.90 this month and ranks third highest among other categories, just a few dollars behind the hugely-popular “Prototype” category. In addition, the chart shows that 6% of all 3D printed objects are related to the Arts/Fashion industry, which hints at an untapped opportunity for designers and “makers” alike.
As it turns out, fashion designers found new benefits in 3D modeling and printing as the new feature not only enables them to meticulously craft their artworks but also simulate what they have created in real-time physics, thus eliminating the need of creating multiple prototypes. Furthermore, the significantly reduced production costs means expanded design possibilities, which grant designers full creative freedom while still meeting cost imperatives.
Looking to spice up your tired wardrobe? Check out this collection of 3D printed clothes by Danit Peleg! How about a pair of minimalist heels that are shock-absorbant? Looking for something novel to wear on your wrist? How about this 3D printed wooden wrist watch? And don’t worry; a replacement model is only a few cheap parts away.
In 2010, Dassault Systèmes reached out to haute couture designer Julien Fournie and together, established FashionLab as part of an initiative to further integrate 3D technology into fashion and foster a mutual understanding between the two fields. Fournié debut his shoe collection last year which included 3D printed samples and here’s how he did it.
And according to Fournié, 3D printing will restore the place of the artist as the “soul of the fashion house,” and that the technology will “open up perspectives that are endless.” This certainly holds true for Deckers, a California-based company that is using 3D technology to revolutionize the footwear industry.
Ever aspired to be a fashion designer but don’t know where to start? You may want to consider 3D printing as a new and viable alternative. Perhaps 3D printing is the preferred sewing machine for the digital age and one that could bring back an old pastime.
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