Fashion

3D printers are a type of Rapid Prototyping technology, positioned as a design tool for producing inexpensive models early in the process of design. The physical models created by the 3D printers make it possible for the design team to review the concepts. In turn, this guarantees the manufacturer better feedback. As you can guess, this results in superior products. 3D printing offers the manufacturers a scope to realise real-time teamwork on a global scale. In recent times, the use of 3D has enhanced drastically with several industries adopting this technology.

First invented in 1984, 3D printing is now capacitated to produce human limbs and organs, NASA rocket engine parts, 5 storey concrete houses, bionic ear, car chassis and more. The possibilities presented are absolutely mind boggling.

Use of 3D Print in the Jewellery Industry

The jewellery industry is not an exception. It was one amongst the very first industries to utilise 3D printing in their ‘investment casting’ process. Instead of using metal printers, wax is used here; this means that the piece of jewellery is sculpted or printed out of wax. Till date, this is the basic process the independent jewellers have been using. 

The design world has cottoned on the possibilities of 3D printing, using it for creating everything, right from lampshades to crockeries while the watchmakers used the accuracy it offers for the creation of intricate mechanisms and entire watch cases. Though several jewellers are championing its usage, there are some critical about its use.

There is no reason of being critical about it. The technology is here for printing directly in precious metals, using the 3D printers which fire out fine layers of gold dust for structuring a solid object. There is a problem here. It is quite expensive. Quite commonly, the jewellers use the 3D printers for producing resin or wax moulds of models. These are created using CAD or Computer Aided design and then cast in precious metals.

This technology allows the designers create pieces that are almost impossible to manufacture by hand. The 3D printer facilitates the creation of joints that are stronger, formed of a continuous piece of metal rather than multiple pieces soldered together. Moreover, it facilitates the introduction of new 3D shapes. CAD is presently a part of the jewellery design curriculum in various colleges though the very idea of ‘casting’ frightens the more traditional jewellers.

3D Printed Jewellery Advantages

What if there has been a fight with your partner and you want to make that up quickly with a piece of customised jewellery? Since technological advancements have made it possible to print jewellery directly from precious metals, this can be an option very soon. 

3D technology is a real help in interpreting complicated designs like an intricate clasp or a symmetrical piece. It can also be used to produce multiple interpretations of a given handmade design.

The appeal of 3D printing lies in the opportunity to produce unique pieces, that too, fast.

3D Printed Jewellery Roadblocks

Remember that jewellery design is not yet a seamless process. A designer may submit a design that is not possible to print as presented. It needs to be adapted. It is not possible to print absolutely anything. After a design is agreed upon and then produced, it needs to be polished and finished professionally.

Another roadblock to adopting this technology is the cost. Moreover, the companies also need to redefine their strategy of working. People are always sceptic of new technology and the jewellery industry is not an exception either. The traditional jewellers prefer to think “We have been doing this for the last 500 years. Why will we change?” People have a romantic vision of everything that’s made by hand. A part of this romance is taken away with the availability of 3D printing technology in jewellery design. A lot of people believe that the key to luxury is craft and history. Some brands are afraid of using a technology that will allow things to be made faster.

The attitude towards 3D technology has its base in the traditional industry’s fear of the new. Things that were once new are now traditional. This is simply a response to new technology. Given the advantages, we hope that very soon more brands will welcome usage of 3D technology in jewellery.3D printers are a type of Rapid Prototyping technology, positioned as a design tool for producing inexpensive models early in the process of design. The physical models created by the 3D printers make it possible for the design team to review the concepts. In turn, this guarantees the manufacturer better feedback. As you can guess, this results in superior products. 3D printing offers the manufacturers a scope to realise real-time teamwork on a global scale. In recent times, the use of 3D has enhanced drastically with several industries adopting this technology.

First invented in 1984, 3D printing is now capacitated to produce human limbs and organs, NASA rocket engine parts, 5 storey concrete houses, bionic ear, car chassis and more. The possibilities presented are absolutely mind boggling.

Use of 3D Print in the Jewellery Industry

The jewellery industry is not an exception. It was one amongst the very first industries to utilise 3D printing in their ‘investment casting’ process. Instead of using metal printers, wax is used here; this means that the piece of jewellery is sculpted or printed out of wax. Till date, this is the basic process the independent jewellers have been using. 

The design world has cottoned on the possibilities of 3D printing, using it for creating everything, right from lampshades to crockeries while the watchmakers used the accuracy it offers for the creation of intricate mechanisms and entire watch cases. Though several jewellers are championing its usage, there are some critical about its use.

There is no reason of being critical about it. The technology is here for printing directly in precious metals, using the 3D printers which fire out fine layers of gold dust for structuring a solid object. There is a problem here. It is quite expensive. Quite commonly, the jewellers use the 3D printers for producing resin or wax moulds of models. These are created using CAD or Computer Aided design and then cast in precious metals.

This technology allows the designers create pieces that are almost impossible to manufacture by hand. The 3D printer facilitates the creation of joints that are stronger, formed of a continuous piece of metal rather than multiple pieces soldered together. Moreover, it facilitates the introduction of new 3D shapes. CAD is presently a part of the jewellery design curriculum in various colleges though the very idea of ‘casting’ frightens the more traditional jewellers.

3D Printed Jewellery Advantages

What if there has been a fight with your partner and you want to make that up quickly with a piece of customised jewellery? Since technological advancements have made it possible to print jewellery directly from precious metals, this can be an option very soon. 

3D technology is a real help in interpreting complicated designs like an intricate clasp or a symmetrical piece. It can also be used to produce multiple interpretations of a given handmade design.

The appeal of 3D printing lies in the opportunity to produce unique pieces, that too, fast.

3D Printed Jewellery Roadblocks

Remember that jewellery design is not yet a seamless process. A designer may submit a design that is not possible to print as presented. It needs to be adapted. It is not possible to print absolutely anything. After a design is agreed upon and then produced, it needs to be polished and finished professionally.

Another roadblock to adopting this technology is the cost. Moreover, the companies also need to redefine their strategy of working. People are always sceptic of new technology and the jewellery industry is not an exception either. The traditional jewellers prefer to think “We have been doing this for the last 500 years. Why will we change?” People have a romantic vision of everything that’s made by hand. A part of this romance is taken away with the availability of 3D printing technology in jewellery design. A lot of people believe that the key to luxury is craft and history. Some brands are afraid of using a technology that will allow things to be made faster.

The attitude towards 3D technology has its base in the traditional industry’s fear of the new. Things that were once new are now traditional. This is simply a response to new technology. Given the advantages, we hope that very soon more brands will welcome usage of 3D technology in jewellery. 

Information share By Architecturalrendering.co.uk

Cute Circuit, a longtime pioneer in connected illuminated fashion, has collaborated with Airline Easyjet to design high-tech uniforms for their engineers and in-cabin crew. 

Cabin Crew Uniform

The haute-tech uniform will sport  Cute Circuit’s signature style programmable LEDs on the shoulders and hem. The LED displays on jacket lapels will scroll through your flight number and destination, in case you forget where you’re going. 

The uniforms are also equipped with built-in microphones for communication with the crew. 

Engineer’s Uniform

The engineers’ hoodies are designed to allow them to work hands-free and in the dark when inspecting the aircraft. Reflective tape allows for field visibility while built in video cameras for remote diagnosis. 

Very little specifications and details are offered on how the uniforms are genuinely connected to each other and can communicate with remote teams (assuming via a custom mobile device app) but never-the-less the uniforms are a nice marketing product to celebrate the carrier’s 20th anniversary. 

Why is this important?

As we see more concept wearables embraced by industry, it moves us one step closer to examining what the near future will hold when our work uniforms and everyday fashion are enhanced with technology. 

via Telegraph

If you were wondering how the gorgeous yet rigid 3D printed haute couture of the likes of Iris van Herpen or Francis Bitonti might trickle down to the masses, 3D Systems might have the answer.

Photo: 3D Systems

They just released project “Fabricate” for use with the Cube, their 3D printer designed for home use, however, the applications of their base technology is much broader than hobbyist designers and makers.

It brings the 2014 collection of knitwear fashion house Pringle to mind, using 3D elements as decorative and enhancing, rather than an entire 3D printed outfit.  At $1199 for the Cube printer plus Fabricate Design Pack and $149 for the Design Pack alone (presuming you already own a Cube), there is an initial deep pocket investment, but there is something more important going on here.

Tastefully art-directed, they’ve made it extremely easy for the average user to whip up something delicious.  This gives beginners a place to start – a springboard for inspiration. It figures out the technical details, so that creators can focus on the form.

Photo: 3D Systems

The basic premise is quite simple: extrude a base layer or footprint onto the print plate, cover with a layer of mesh or other structurally loose fabric, and then continue printing your forms, trapping the fabric between bottom and top layers.  Once you’re done, sew around the edges to integrate the printing into your garment.  Click here for their excellent intro website.

Photo: 3D Systems

The team is encouraging experimentation by its users.  “I can’t wait to see how people use this technology to push the boundaries of fashion,” says Annie Shaw, Creative Director at 3D Systems. The message is decidedly inclusive and definitely in the spirit of the discovery of making.  It also brings us one step closer to being able to download our clothes off the web – I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait!

Photo: 3D Systems

More nice work coming out of the Netherlands fashion schools with Jasna Rokegem’s Brainwaves pieces.

Photo: Jasna Rokegem

Styled for both men and women (so long as they are from the future!) the work uses neurological activity sensors to activate lights and movement in the clothing.

Photo: Jasna Rokegem

Technical collaboration came from Contrechoc and the resulting work is a great example of how design can compliment technology and vice versa.  See more on how the garments work on her website.

Photo: Jasna Rokegem

The project has earned Jasna a nomination for a 2015 Bachelor Award.

Neffa Studio’s Chameleon Mood Scarf is designed to create a sense of comfort, warmth, peace and safety for the wearer.

Photo: Neffa Studio

Different layers of phase-change inks change and react depending on the environment, making different patterns come to the forefront depending on the situation.

Photo: Neffa Studio

Neffa Studio describes the phase-change design this way: “the black pattern is printed in thermochromic ink, which responds to the wearer’s body temperature. The pattern disappears as it warms up; this gives the scarf a more muted appearance and renders the wearer less conspicuous, which is precisely what you want if it is fear or stress that has forced your body temperature up. The light green pattern is printed in photoluminescent ink, which reacts to light and glows greenish blue in the dark for added visibility. The white print uses photochromic ink. This print reacts to UV light and changes from white to orange when the wearer goes outdoors, reflecting how sunlight often improves people’s mood.”

Video by Local Androids

What I like about this scarf is its well-considered use of technologically-advanced materials.  There are plenty of examples of “cool tech” being showcased just for the sake of the tech – this piece, however, not only has a thoughtful concept behind it, but stands alone as a tasteful design that is quietly high-tech.

Go to the project page to read more about it and perhaps learn something you didn’t know about chameleons: www.neffa.nl/portfolio/chameleon-mood-scarf

The desire to fit into social norms of body image takes a physical and emotional toll. Body shaming yourself day after day. Fixating and battling with your self proclaimed imperfections. Creating an obsession around it and slowly disembodying who you are to just pieces of disgust. 

“In the Presence of Myself” is a performance art piece that explores and highlights the self consciousness of what it means to carry these emotions. Slowing exploring and understanding the body. Sometimes hiding behind this outer self.