It’s been almost two years since Justin LeBlanc’s 3D printed wares graced the catwalk on Lifetime’s hit series, Project Runway. Since then, a countless number of designers have found ways to integrate the technology into their clothing, shoes, and accessories. But, given the inherit 3D modeling skills necessary to create such pieces and the time it takes to 3D print such elaborate pieces as Dita Von Teese’s 3D printed gown, the tech just wasn’t quite fit for a true Project Runway challenge. Tonight, the show proved, however, that they could make it work, but that they’d need 3D Systems’ new Fabricate line of 3D printed textiles to do so.
As 3DPI’s Tyler Koslow learned first-hand at a 3D Systems’ workshop in New York City, the Fabricate line is meant to enable broad access to 3D printed fashion by blending 3D printed textures with traditional fabrics. Users begin by 3D printing PLA plate layer, before applying a bit of glue and a swatch of specialty fabric and resuming the printing process, using one of a handful of patterns on Cubify.com. The resulting textile can then be sewn into any piece of clothing the way that any fabric might, allowing any fashion designer to take advantage of futuristic, Bitonti or van Herpen-type, 3D printed designs.
On tonight’s episode of season 14 of Project Runway, the five remaining contestants were challenged to implement Fabricate textiles into their final pieces, inspired by an iconic New York City bridge. When introduced to the technology, some were baffled (“I don’t know what that means. I don’t even own a 2D printer.”) and some were stoked (“I love 3D! I walk around and the world is in 3D!”). After being paired with some 3D modelers from 3D Systems, the designers were able to sketch their ideas for 3D printed textiles, which the 3DS crew transformed into printable designs. Then, with a suite of Cube 3D printers back at the studio, they 3D printed their textiles and incorporated them into their final looks.
I don’t want to spoil the winner of the challenge for you here, but I can say that some of the results were stunning.
Though my regular top contestant is Merline Labissiere, my personal favorite look tonight was Kelly Dempsey’s Brooklyn Bridge-inspired piece, definitely her best work of the season. Her 3D printed appliqué was inspired by the bridge’s bricks, complementing the texture of her wild crocodile skin dress.
Whether you caught the episode or not, you can actually 3D print your own version of some of the contestants’ designs at home! As part of the Fabricate Project Runway collection, textiles from tonight’s show are now available for purchase online and 3D printing at home, so that anyone can combine their own designs with the contestant’s look. The winning contestant got to take home a Cube 3D printer and a package of Fabricate supplies.
As a personal fan of the show and, you might have guessed, a heavy 3D printing enthusiast, this episode was the highlight of the entire season, jumping just ahead of Justin’s 3D printed accessories from season 12 and that time that Santino did an uncanny impression of Tim Gunn in season 2 (my wife and I named our cat after Andrae Gonzalo for this impression alone). Head over to Cubify to learn more or check out the 3D printed textiles created by Project Runway season 14’s final five.
