Wearable 3D prints are no stranger to high fashion as the technology has appealed to a long list of the industry’s most creative designers. But 3D printing plastic shapes akin to beads or sequences in patterns and colors directly onto fabric is relatively new. One just-launched printer may rapidly expand the application of the technology by make it easier for brands to print directly onto clothing, bags, accessories, and footwear, in a nearly unlimited range of textures, shapes, and colors. Each piece can be customized and unique.
The new J850 TechStyle (a play on the word textile) from 3D printer maker giant Stratasys, uses the company’s established material jetting technology to deposit polymer resins, layer by layer, onto a piece of denim, cotton, polyester, linen or leather at volumes ranging from single custom pieces to the tens of thousands.
Stratasys was able to 3D print directly on fabric before, debuting the method with its J750 PolyJet 3D printer in 2019, but the new TechStyle version of its J850 features parts and software focused specifically on fashion and making the entire process more accessible, the company says.
Stratasys’ 3DFashion printing technology couples computer-generated design for patterns that cannot be completed manually with colorful, clear, and translucent materials, to create illusions with color and light mimicking everything from butterfly wings to insect eyes.
Not limited to bead-like hard plastics, brands can print in soft and flexible materials and directly print features, such as buttons, cufflinks and clips directly onto the garment in heights up to 50 mm. A variety of materials are available for the J850 TechStyle 3D printer, which is able to print on textiles in over 600,000 unique colors. The Vero ContactFlex resin material, for example, produces a transparent coating on textiles that can be used to create a soft touch, silky feel.
Stratasys hasn’t announced a price, but its similar multi-material, multi-color 3D printer, the J850 Pro, is roughly $200,000.
To further promote the capabilities of the J850 TechStyle 3D printer, Stratasys has joined forces with a series of fashion partners including, Dyloan and the D-house in Milan. Previously, the company’s 3D printers have been used to create fashion by Ganit Goldstein, Julia Koerner, threeASFOUR and Travis Fitch.
Stratasys will release its SSYS 2Y22 collection of fashion at the Milan Design Week, June 6 -12, 2022. The collection reflects the last two years of fashion and design R&D and includes new works, such as high-end dresses and suits, daywear, lighting, luxury packaging, handbags, accessories and shoes, by seven top design teams.
“As far back as 2019, I predicted that in just a couple years we would see 3D printing incorporated into high-end fashion houses,” says Stratasys Art, Design and Fashion Director Naomi Kaempfer. “That time is here. We learned and modified those early designs, and created a new, dedicated printer using 3DFashion technology that is allowing fashion designers to create without limits. This is just the beginning of the journey as we continue to evolve this technology and pioneer new fashion design innovations.”
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