German designers use 3D printing technology to make blind clothing

In recent years, there have been many applications of 3D printing technology in the fashion field. However, we rarely see bigger breakthroughs. But fashion designer Babette Sperling from Germany used 3D printing technology to complete an amazing environmentally friendly blind costume and showcase it on Mercedes Fashion Night.

It is understood that Sperling is a fashion design student at Zwickau University in Germany. Her inspiration comes from her daily exploration. In terms of technology, 3D printed clothing is simple and practical, but Sperling pays more attention to its environmental friendliness.

Obviously, the biggest challenge she faces is finding the right green materials. Sperling's collection shows the potential of 3D printed wearable and eco-friendly fashion. It is worth mentioning that Sperling's design also integrates Braille directly into the garment, making the garment not only have visual texture, but also information in its material, which is often lacking in fast fashion culture.

To integrate Braille embossing, Sperling decided to use FDM 3D printers to print plastic directly onto the fabric of the garment, which required extensive research and extensive experimentation. To help with the experiment, she also sought the help of the Dresden Fab lab, which together tested about 15 different material combinations (filaments and fabrics) to see which one was the best. Finally, after many failed or inadequate tests, Sperling discovered a Berlin-based startup, BioInspiration, to develop flexible 3D printed materials made from compostable materials.

After hearing Sperling's comments, BioInspiration is eager to use its materials to produce 3D printed garments and recommends using its popular, fully compostable WillowFlex filaments to complete the task. After testing the filaments, Sperling was very happy to see its good adhesion to natural fabrics such as cotton and silk . Finally, WillowFlex is not only used to say that 3D printed Braille is directly integrated into the fabric, but can also be used to create custom sizes for clothing.

“I am very pleased that I have discovered a 3D printed material that allows it to be seamlessly integrated into my fashion design,” Sperling said. “Composting certification of raw materials according to US and EU standards (EN 13423) is in full compliance with mine. The concept, a comprehensive range of sustainable product designs, allows garments to return to nature and complete a life cycle. At the same time, WillowFlex has been proven to be compatible with all 3D printers (Ultimaker, Flashforge and Makerbot) we use during the testing process. ".

As mentioned above, Sperling's 3D printed Braille clothing collection has been on display at Mercedes Fashion Nights and received a lot of positive feedback and even won the Audience Choice Award. It is understood that Sperling has begun planning to design more 3D printed clothing and integrate compostable 3D printing materials.