12,000 Swarovski Crystals On a 3D Printed Dress

By on June 26th, 2013 in Usage

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The unlikely team of costume designer Michael Schmidt of Los Angeles and architect Francis Bitonti of Brooklyn collaborated to create the world’s “first fully articulated garment made using 3-D printing”, according to a report in the New York Times. 
 
Bitonti created a detailed scan of burlesque performer Dita Von Teese, while Schmidt used the scan to design a precision fit complex dress structure. Seventeen components made up the dress, which were assembled and colored with lacquer. Then they attached the finishing touch: 12,000 Swarovski crystals, bringing the total weight of the dress to a mere 11.5 lbs (5.2kg). 
 
We believe this work is more than simply the first articulated garment. It demonstrates a hybrid approach: where previous 3D printed garments were just 3D printed, this work uses 3D printed objects as a base and combines them with other elements. There’s more to it than simply hitting “Print”. 
 
The result is breathtaking. It won’t be the last. Dress making will never be the same.  
 

By Kerry Stevenson

Kerry Stevenson, aka "General Fabb" has written over 8,000 stories on 3D printing at Fabbaloo since he launched the venture in 2007, with an intention to promote and grow the incredible technology of 3D printing across the world. So far, it seems to be working!