The impact of 3D printing on fashion
I know you’re going to say that 3D printing sounds like something straight out of one of those sci-fi movies where an alien rules the world with a magic ink cartridge…
But this technology is not as far from reality as we might think. Thanks to it, when we want to buy new clothes or more modern shoes, it will now be possible to print them to measure. No need to find the perfect size! This is the new trend for 2014, and it’s sure to be a hit.
The world of fashion has already changed enormously with the arrival of this technology. The Internet has also transformed the way we shop and discover the latest fashion trends. The 3D printer will do the same, and although 3D printing is not yet accessible to everyone, it will one day be possible to create your own made-to-measure wardrobe. Some brands have even recently launched products based on this technology. There’s no doubt that many more will soon enter this new segment.
Last January, at Paris Fashion Week, avant-garde designer Iris Van Herpen announced the launch of an entire line of her creations using this brand-new technology. Many others have followed suit, such as the Continuum brand, which offers an application for designing 3D garments. London designer Ron Arad has created sunglasses using 3D printing. He even claims that these are the first sunglasses made from a single base material!
But will 3D printing be a positive phenomenon for the fashion world?
Of course, it’s another way of being creative, and will enable innovative designs that aren’t currently possible with just needle and thread. What’s more, you’ll be able to add personal details, so there’s no need to worry about wearing the same things as someone else to the same party!
One of the best things about 3D printing is the ability to adapt garment sizes perfectly to our morphology. So, no more worries, the perfect garment is just around the corner!
However, like all new types of technology, there are also disadvantages. I’m thinking in particular of the fashion industry. It’s important to consider the people who make their living from this industry, whether they’re a designer for a major brand, or a talented little hand working for one. What will happen to them when we’re all able to design and create our own clothes?
Will we always need so many seamstresses? Indeed, with the development of this new technology, it’s highly likely that many craftsmen will lose their jobs. What’s more, a second perverse effect could be to compromise garment quality, by draining the market of talented craftsmen.
This also raises another problem in the web world. We’re all familiar with the controversies surrounding illegal downloading in sectors such as music and film. Digitizing the world of fashion would open the door to this type of counterfeiting, and therefore to illegal downloading of designer clothing patterns.
For the moment, the biggest problem for most people remains the cost of 3D printers and the products to run them. 3D printing is still very much out of reach, but its potential is nonetheless fascinating. There’s no doubt that this technology will transform the fashion market. However, it remains to be seen whether, in the long term, the changes brought about by the emergence of this new technology will be mostly positive… What do you think?
Elise Lévêque is a freelance writer with a passion for new technologies, and a total addiction to social networking. You can follow her on twitter Elise_GKBC
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