UK university takes lead on 3D printed fashion
A project led by Loughborough University is looking to revolutionise the way consumers shop for clothes using 3D textile printing techniques.
Dr Guy Bingham, senior lecturer in product and industrial design, has partnered with textile and garment manufacturer the Yeh Group on ‘3D Fashion’, an 18-month project which will create personalised 3D printed fashion. With design input from a major fashion house, 3D Fashion will produce 3D wearable, full size, Additive Manufacturing (AM) textile garments and footwear. The aim is to eventually be able to manufacture the garments within 24 hours.
Due to advancements in AM textiles, it is now possible to create 3D printed garments directly from polymer and other raw materials in a single manufacturing operation. This could bring about a reduction in waste, labour costs and CO2e as well as promoting localised manufacturing and production.
“With 3D printing there is no limit to what you can build and it is this design freedom which makes the technology so exciting by bringing to life what was previously considered to be impossible,” Dr Bingham said.
David Yeh, managing director of the Yeh Group, added: “3D Fashion supports the Yeh Group vision of direct polymer to garment manufacture. The Yeh Group is always striving to cut out unnecessary waste and resource use, and support the industries goals of faster to market, creating a manufacturing technology that brands and retailers can install closer to their customers.”
