3D-Printed Clothing Hits the Paris Runway

Stratasys Ltd. and Materialise have printed 3D clothing pieces that were worn on the catwalk of Paris Fashion week in the Iris van Herpen's haute couture show, "Voltage."

Two pieces out of the 11-piece collection were 3D printed. One creation, a cape and elaborate skirt, was 3D printed by Stratasys and created with Neri Oxman, an artist, architect, designer, and professor from MIT's Media Lab. Stratasys's Objet Connex multi-material 3D printing technology was used. This technology can use a variety of material properties to be printed into a single build, which allowed both soft and hard materials to be used to give the piece movement and texture.

"The ability to vary softness and elasticity inspired us to design a 'second skin' for the body acting as armor-in-motion; in this way we were able to design not only the garment's form but also its motion," said Oxman, in a press release. "The incredible possibilities afforded by these new technologies allowed us to reinterpret the tradition of couture as 'tech-couture' where delicate handmade embroidery and needlework is replaced by code."

The other creation, an intricate dress, was 3D printed by Materialise and created with Julia Koerner, an Austrian architect and lecturer at UCLA Los Angeles. The piece has intricate lace-like texture that was created with precision through laser sintering and is described as being a flexible, soft dress.

Julia Koerner, in the press release, said:

Designer Iris van Herpen wanted to collaborate with Oxman after seeing her "Imaginary Beings: Mythologies of the Not Yet" collection that was featured in Paris last spring. The collection was 3D printed by Stratasys's matchless Objet Connex multi-material 3D printing technology.

Oxman said:

Designer Iris van Herpen, in the press release, added:

Oxman's 3D printed skirt and cape will be exhibited at Massachusetts Institute of Technology's media lab following the Paris Fashion Show.

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