Take a dive in 3 dimensions

Just a few weeks left for the end of the semester and my studies. Soon i'll be lying on the beach, enjoying the sun, reading my favourite books. I guess a common thought for the upcoming summer vacations...How about lying on the beach wearing a 3D printed bikini? Anything but common!

The N12 bikini is the world's first ready-to-wear, completely 3D-printed article of clothing. All of the pieces, closures included, are made directly by 3D printing and snap together without any sewing. N12 represents the beginning of what is possible for the near future. 

N12 is named for the material it's made out of: Nylon 12. This solid nylon is created by the SLS 3D printing process. Shapeways calls this material "white, strong, and flexible", because its strength allows it to bend without breaking when printed very thin. With a minimum wall thickness of .7 mm, it is possible to make working springs and almost thread-like connections. For a bikini, the nylon is beautifully functional because it is waterproof and remarkably comfortable when wet.

Fashion made of paper (remastered)

It's been a really long time (!!!) since my last post. Things have been crazy lately...but enough with the irrelevant facts... back to work!

Yesterday i read an article in the LIFO (www.lifo.gr) about scientists inventing high-tech paper. Researchers in the University of Technology in Italy have turned plain paper into a "super-powered" paper. Waterproof, magnetic even antibacterial. Well, this surely is interesting. 
Scientists can see a major role of the antibacterial paper in the healthcare and the food industry, magnetic and fluorescent in official documents and money, and waterproof paper in protecting significant documents.

In my point of view, with my usual/unusual thoughts i instantly made a connection with an exhibition  hosted in the Benaki museum (www.benaki.gr) in 2007, "Χρατς, Μόδα απο χαρτί" (Fashion made of paper), and paper clothing in general.

Paper clothes first appeared in the 1960's. Paper dresses were a little more than just paper, they were usually composed of 93% cellulose and 7% nylon (like dry baby wipes), or sometimes made of "Dura-Weve," which was cellulose reinforced with rayon. Although they were indeed more fragile than cloth, they were not likely to rip at the slightest move. Many paper clothes also featured closures of Velcro, making them seem even more "space-age."Paper dresses sounded like the next great invention - convenient, cheap and fashionable. 

Andy Warhol's Souper dress

So why aren't they around today? It certainly wasn't for lack of marketing. According to a Time Magazine article from 1967, "Sterling Paper believes in paper resort wear, the idea being that vacationers could buy paper clothes at the hotel when they arrive, throw them away when they depart, thus eliminating packing and carrying heavy luggage." Paper dresses were also lauded in fashion magazines of the times. However, the physical limitations of a dress made from paper were too great to large up to critical acclaim. Despite efforts to invent a durable paper-based fabric, the dresses ripped too easily. Also, though some dresses had chemicals added to prevent them catching fire, repeated washings removed this protection.

Can this past trend get back in the game with the help of future technologies? We'll just have to wait and see...

I thought it would be nice to see some creations made of paper. 

Jum Nakao 

Jolis Paons

Heidi Rodriguez

Chris Everard

and shoes to go with them...

Jennifer Collier