Faculty Mentor Information
Dr. Lori Wahl (Mentor), University of Idaho
Additional Funding Sources
This research was funded by Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program from the Office of Undergraduate Research at the University of Idaho.
Abstract
The fashion industry annually disposes of 92 million tons of textiles in landfills and is ranked third in the world for emissions. The industry has a projected increase of 50% in global emissions by 2030. Sustainable practices must be explored and implemented to reduce waste and use resources more responsibly. Over-production has resulted in unwanted products that are disposed of before being worn. 3D printing offers a way of producing fantastical digital designs using new approaches to construction as well as the ability to print on demand. This research developed a sustainable method of producing wearable attachments using a combination of cut-and-sew techniques and 3D printing. The attachment was designed in 3Ds max, Nomad and virtually prototyped in Browzwear until fit and shape attributes were refined adequately for a physical prototype. The digital file which can be used in virtual applications such as Instagram and can be 3D printed when there is a demand for a physical product.
Digital Threads: Crafting Sustainable Fashion with 3D Printing & Virtual Garments
The fashion industry annually disposes of 92 million tons of textiles in landfills and is ranked third in the world for emissions. The industry has a projected increase of 50% in global emissions by 2030. Sustainable practices must be explored and implemented to reduce waste and use resources more responsibly. Over-production has resulted in unwanted products that are disposed of before being worn. 3D printing offers a way of producing fantastical digital designs using new approaches to construction as well as the ability to print on demand. This research developed a sustainable method of producing wearable attachments using a combination of cut-and-sew techniques and 3D printing. The attachment was designed in 3Ds max, Nomad and virtually prototyped in Browzwear until fit and shape attributes were refined adequately for a physical prototype. The digital file which can be used in virtual applications such as Instagram and can be 3D printed when there is a demand for a physical product.