Chromatic 3D Materials, a leading player in 3D printing technology, has teamed up with Dutch high-tech fashion designer Anouk Wipprecht to introduce an innovative 3D printed dress with a futuristic design, featuring responsive LEDs. This creation represents one of the world’s first garments to seamlessly integrate electronics into 3D printed elastomers.
The collaboration between Chromatic and Anouk Wipprecht demonstrates the practical applications of their 3D printing technology. Wipprecht used 3D printing to attach approximately 75 flexible LED domes directly to the fabric of the dress, eliminating the need for traditional adhesive or stitching methods. Chromatic envisions that this technology could be extended to design forward-thinking running apparel, bags, footwear, and various other products.
The dress is crafted from Chromatic’s proprietary material, ChromaFlow 70, known for its pliability and heat resistance. Remarkably, this material can be draped and stretched to over four times its original length without suffering damage, making it well-suited for various types of apparel, including intimate and leisure garments, sportswear, swimwear, and other clothing where comfort, form, and durability are crucial.
Anouk Wipprecht sees this dress as a glimpse into a future where technology is harnessed in positive and meaningful ways. She also praises Chromatic’s 3D materials and printing technology for their flexibility and strength, making this her most wearable and washable 3D-printed dress to date.
Cora Leibig, the Founder and CEO of Chromatic 3D Materials, is excited about the endless possibilities of merging technology, textiles, and apparel, including wearable art and 3D-printed clothing for everyday use.
Chromatic emphasizes that garments utilizing 3D-printed elastomers maintain their drape, enhancing their commercial viability in ready-to-wear clothing, activewear, and intimate apparel. The company also underscores that Wipprecht’s dress showcases how 3D printing with Chromatic’s elastomers can create waterproof casings to protect embedded electronics. The dress’s grand debut will take place at Formnext 2023 in Frankfurt on November 7th.
This innovative collaboration between fashion and technology is part of a broader trend in the apparel industry, with Adobe recently unveiling a dress with smart display fabric that can change its designs and forms like a digital screen. These developments are marking a new era for fashion and technology integration in the apparel industry.
