.MGX by Materialise:Fashion Innovations in 3D Printing

Recently I visited the Eyebeam Art +Technology Center for a fascinating lecture called Fashion Innovations in 3D Printing. The lecture featured collaborations between designers and producers using cutting edge 3D printing techniques to push the boundaries of fashion. Innovators who spoke, Joris Debo, Creative Director of .MGX by Materialise,  Duann Scott of Shapeways and Architect Bradley Rothenberg spoke about the development of complex architectural woven 3D printed materials that are highly flexible, and have durable elasticity.  See the video below:

I walked away from this lecture realizing that the 3D file is just as much a work of art as the object or fabric itself. These woven structures are all based from 'sacred geometry,' said architect Bradley Rothenberg. He mentioned how the triangle is the basis of all structure,  as we see in Buckminster Fuller's geodesic domes. This logic of sacred geometry is applied to the work they are doing in 3d printing. They intersect and grow geometrical systems in multiple directions and in so doing, create a fabric that expands in multiple directions. 

The future possibilities for fashion design are endless!! 

Take a look at how Materialise, a leader in 3D printing and prototyping, hit the fashion runways with hats using 3D technologies at their Materialise World Conference Fashion show....

The 'H' hat by Brussel's Elvis Pompilio.

(source)

"Hats off to 3D Printing Challenge." All designs were produced by Materialise at their Headquarters in Leuven, Belgium.

Check out the video showing sculptural clutch purses and necklaces by renowned designer Daniel Widrig and other unique hat designs from the "Hats off to 3D Printing Challenge."

At the end of the lecture, I was able to chat with Joris Debo,  creative director of .MGX by Materialise, a company that helps bring great ideas to life. He generously answered some questions about his company,  and the work he is doing with 3D printing. 


Interview with Joris Debo:

Tell me about you and your role at Materialise?

I'm the Creative director of .MGX by Materialise, the consumer division of Materialise. Next to that I'm also working for Materialise' AMS business unit. This unit is delivering AM services for all kinds of industries. In the New York office we focus on art, design and fashion related projects and everything out of the ordinary. 

Iris van Herpen’s Couture Paris show ‘Voltage’ 2013

Tell us about the structure and flexible lace-like material created by laser sintering for the 3d printed dress for Iris van Herpen’s Couture Paris show ‘Voltage’ 2013?

The flexible material is a laser sintered polyurethane: very durable and has excellent shape memory. In my opinion a material that is part of a next generation of 3D printing materials. This material allows us to do things that weren't  possible before. 

 This material Joris describes is TpU 92A-1. It made its debut on the catwalk during Iris van Herpens's Voltage Haute Couture show during Paris Fashion Week this past March 2013.  Lets peek into Iris van Herpen's world where these 3D printed dresses' flexibility is revolutionary!

Iris van Herpen explores the electricity of the body. Drawing on the idea of movement, the flexible 3D printed dresses are a result of collaborations with US based designer Neri Oxman of the MIT Media Lab and Austrian architect Julia Koerner of Materialise (source)

These designs are spectacular..love the multiple woven layers.  See how they move on video:

What kind of new possibilities in construction and effects are eliminated in fashion using lasers and 3d printing?

In an ideal scenario we could eliminate seams and handwork. Also laser sintering technology allows us to create forms and shapes that weren’t possible before and are new to the industry. 

Fashion designer Iris van Herpen collaborated with New York company .MGX by Materialise and architect Julia Koerner to create this 3D printed dress as part of her Hybrid Holism Autumn/Winter 2012/2013 collection (source) The 3D printed dress by Iris van Herpen, called out as "liquid honey," is seamless.

What other material innovations are you working on for fashion, etc?

aha…the million dollar question. For the moment we’re working on some ‘functional items’ for the fashion industry. What exactly I can’t disclose yet. The idea is to show that you can make things that are functional/wearable and not only meant for the Haute couture runways.

What software packages are the best and suitable for 3d printing?

Packages: rhinoceros, Maya, 3D STUDIO MAX,…. and Magics for 3d printing file preparation.   

Would you characterize 3d printing a similar concept to Star Trek’s replicator? 

I’m not a Star Trek expert to be honest. I think the Star Trek replicator is still a concept that maybe one day we’ll see in the future. It works on a molecular level and that’s still far away.

Thank you Joris! You can follow .MGX by Materialise on FACEBOOK

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