We all know that 3D printing has many uses, and as the technology has become more available, people from all different kinds of industries have been integrating additive manufacturing into their production process. One industry that’s capitalized on 3D printing technology is the fashion. In a recently opened exhibition titled “Layer by Layer,” London’s Fashion Space Gallery is highlighting the wares of a few fashion designers that create remarkable pieces using 3D printing.
According to the Fashion Space Gallery, “Layer by Layer is the first of a two-part series exploring digital print in fashion. This exhibition focuses on 3D printing and its potential as a tool for design. By outlining some of the processes, stages of development and materials involved in the printing of objects, this exhibition will demonstrate some of the most innovative uses of 3D printing in contemporary practice.”
Below are a few of the shows highlights:
The Melonia Shoe – Naim Josephi & Souzan Yusouf
Despite its delicate skeletal appearance, the Melonia Shoe, designed by fashion designer Naim Josefi, industrial designer Souzan Yusouf and printed by i.materialise, revealed its strength when debuted on the catwalk in February 2010. The shoe is designed as a closed loop system - a person can go into a shop, have their foot scanned and a shoe printed in a homogenous, recyclable material.
E_Style Shoes - Hoon Chung
Hoon Chung’s pioneering shoes demonstrate how the upper and lower parts of an object can be printed together as one part in multiple materials. While the upper is made of a soft, flexible material, the heel, sole and shank are printed together in a hard plastic that maintains the structural integrity of the shoe. This innovative printing process significantly reduces material waste and eliminates the use of toxic glues.
Pq Eyewear - Ron Arad
Ron Arad launched pq eyewear in 2012 as a means of introducing new ideas and materials into the established field of eyewear. 3D printed glasses are made as one piece, eliminating the need for costly and fragile metal hinge parts. This is made possible by a vertebrae-like, slatted hinge that enables the arms to bend for storage and holds the glasses comfortably to the head when worn.
Images Courtesy of Fashion Space Gallery & the artists