Luxury fashion has always balanced between art and technology. It is in this industry that the most daring experiments emerge, which then gradually seep into everyday clothing. One of the most fascinating trends of recent years is 3D printing in fashion – a technology that is already changing the way clothes are designed, produced and worn.
What are clothes 3D printed from?
While it seemed like a futuristic vision just a decade ago, today 3D printing in fashion uses an increasingly wide range of materials. The most commonly used is:
- nylon (PA12) – lightweight, flexible and durable, perfect for items that require movement
- TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) – extremely durable and flexible, resembling traditional fabrics
- Biopolymers, like WillowFlex – biodegradable plastics, ideal for designers focused on sustainable fashion
- Metal alloys and gold – used in jewelry and accessories
- Transparent and tinted resins – allowing to create glass or crystal effects.
These materials enable the design of both soft, flexible fabrics and hard, sculptural pieces.
The biggest designers and icons of 3D printing in fashion
The first designer to bring 3D printing to the haute couture runway was Iris Van Herpen. Her collections have been redefining the boundaries of fashion for over a decade, combining architecture, science and art. She created the first 3D printed wedding dress, as well as futuristic creations resembling biological structures or elements of nature. Bold and unorthodox. That’s why her designs delight both fashion and art lovers.
Zac Posen is another icon – his Rose Petal Dress at the Met Gala 2019 has become a legend. The creation with 37 petals printed using SLA technology and painted with color-changing paint was proof that 3D printing in fashion is not just an experiment. It’s an area that fluctuates seamlessly on the border of artwork.
In jewelry, Jenny Wu, an architect who founded the LACE brand in 2014, stands out. Her designs combine CAD precision with 3D printing in nylon and metal. The brand offers modern forms, impossible to achieve with traditional methods.
Companies and brands betting on 3D printing
Technology is slowly moving beyond haute couture and into the mainstream. Chanel has experimented with adding 3D printed details to iconic tweed outfits. And Scottish brand Pringle has used the technology to produce patterns and cuffs in its sweaters.
Increasingly, 3D fashion printing is seen in accessories and accessories – From handbags to eyewear to jewelry. In the luxury industry, it plays a role as a tool to create unique, limited-edition pieces that highlight the exclusivity of a product.
Clothing, accessories or just decoration?
Although spectacular gowns printed entirely in 3D are attracting media attention, the technology is now most often used in:
- decorative elements – appliqués, panels, dress embellishments
- accessories – jewelry, eyeglasses, handbags
- hybrid clothing – where traditional fabric is combined with 3D printed elements, allowing for greater comfort.
Fully printed creations are still the domain of runways and artistic designs. In contrast, technological advances are bringing them closer to everyday life.
The most interesting examples of 3D printing in fashion
- Iris Van Herpen wedding dress (2024) – the first fully printed gown of its kind, custom-designed thanks to a 3D scan of the figure.
- Glass Dress Zac Posen (2019) – a transparent creation worn by Nina Dobrev, created from Somos Watershed resin.
- Spider Dress by Anouk Wipprecht – a dress that reacts to the owner’s movement and breathing, equipped with sensors and robotic arms.
- NAMEDRESS by Sylvia Heisel – a bioplastic dress with women’s names in STEM, printed with zero-waste technology.
3D printing in fashion – the future or a fad?
Experts stress that while the vision of printing clothes at home is still a melody of the future, 3D printing in luxury fashion is already a real revolution. It allows to reduce waste. Additionally, it reduces production time. Third, it opens unlimited creative possibilities and gives customers a sense of uniqueness.
Perhaps in two decades 3D printer clothes will be available on a daily basis. But for now, it’s luxury, art and innovation all in one. A showcase of how technology can change fashion.
Cool!