Posted on 01/21/2014 10:39:20 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
In early 2013, Objet partnered with fashion designer Iris Van Herpen to create the first 3D printed dress. It was certainly a perfect fit for the world of high fashion where functionality means nothing and art is everything. For those who want 3D printed clothing that’s not an art statement, your day may come in 2014.
Fast Company reports that entrepreneur Aaron Rowley has a new startup called Electroloom. The new company is working on a 3D printer that creates functional, wearable clothing. So far, they’ve been able to print sheets out of polymer fabric. By the end of the year, they hope to be able to print T-shirts, beanies and more.
While the product is nowhere near complete, Electroloom is getting there thanks to a grant from Alternative Apparel. With the extra money, they’ll be able to investigate new materials, including one that’s a mix of natural and synthetic.
Check out the video below to see the fabric material in action:
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
First day of prototyping went more successfully than anticipated!
More amazingly, Rowley hopes to set up a Thingiverse for clothing. In other words, he wants to set up a Web site where designers can share their clothing designs with the world and anybody else can print them for their own use. Everybody from professionals to amateurs would be able to share their latest designs and receive immediate feedback on the latest fashions.
Electroloom hopes to have a product out the door by the end of the year. With how amazing their material already is, I wouldn’t be surprised if people were created clothes with 3D printers by that time. Of course, you can already imagine the uproar the clothing industry would make if this were to catch on. After all, why buy clothes when you can design and print your own?
“I can hear it now....
“Mo-om! I can’t print my socks! “”
Oh, hilarious!
We didn’t get the divine ZOT for creating nuclear weapons or the bulldozer, I don’t think improved medicine will cross the line.
On the other hand, entire civilizations have been eliminated for sexual deviancy and killing their children. I think you misdirect your fears.
That is actually a ignorant line.
How can you say that in light of WWII Germany, for example?
The plight of the Russians as the Soviet Union formed, starving tens of millions?
Soon followed by Homeland Security raids for making your own GUCCI knockoffs.
You can adjust the business model to accommodate making your own Gucci clothing:
1. Log on to the Gucci website and download the pattern based on the measurements you submit.
2. A file is then wirelessly transmitted to your printer.
3. Your printer then dispenses the materials necessary to make your dress.
4. Snapchat-like, your printer then discards the pattern as per the license agreement.
What is coming are file formats that self-destruct according to the license agreement. Without this, the IP industry is going to be gutted, and there won’t be much new under the sun.
As for the market for printed anything - someone has to manufacture the printers, the cartridges, the recovery systems, the refills, the delivery, etc.
Will there be a market for traditionally made everything (i.e. durable as opposed to disposable)? Sure.
Beyond craftsmanship and “quality” of materials used, GUCCI sells exclusivity.
But Homeland Security and the FBI love raiding the warehouse boutiques that sell knockoff clothing so someone at some level will be using the product that way without the consent of the clothing manufacturer.
Meanwhile the gubmint isn’t so concerned about the knockoff Sharpie markers and Gillette razors sold at the dollar stores.
Wow. I didn’t realize how close we really are to Star Trek. Technology is advancing so quickly.
And every innovation, however odd or frivolous, gets us that much farther ahead.
“Strange how much human progress and achievement comes from contemplation of the irrelevant.” - Scott Kim
Fair point, but for the US I think it holds true, which is what I initially meant, granted, I should have explained it better. I also have a bad feeling it will soon be true for Russia and all of Europe as well.
Gucci stuff printed at home will still be ridiculously expensive so that it’s exclusive. Raids on knockoffs will focus on the download sites, just like how they’ve been tormenting Pirate Bay.
there is no copyright on fashion. (see TED talk on subject)
just the label.
You can copy fashion at will.
But in the world of high fashion it’s the label that matters. That’s why the knockoffs focus as much energy on making their label look (at first glance) like the “real” one as the garment itself.
Va-Voom! I’d rather 3-D print one of her .... ;-)
Actually, printing custom clothing should be targeted to the Halloween market.
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