3D Printed Fabrics – The Death Knell Of The Needle And Thread?

Yes, you two can look like you stumbled out of a time travelers D&D event.

As mankind’s ability to create new and exciting technology races forward, so too does our ability to create seemingly simple items like clothing in new and efficient ways. It’s in that thread that I present to you… clothes… that look like… plastic… chain-mail?

I’ve never been a fan of shopping for clothes, at least in person. To any of my friends reading this, that news may come as some surprise. I have closets of meticulously chosen clothing, all having been decided upon after weeks of research. You see, I love the clothes, but not the shopping. I have a feeling that a lot of men feel as I do; that the end result (the purchase) holds much more satisfaction than the chore of standing in lines, or dealing with completely uninterested clerks.

Though these “clothes” are obviously hideous, the technology’s potential is staggering. What happens when 3D printing allows for (normal) looking clothes to be printed at the click of a button? The implications on the labor markets and foreign production are staggering. Instead of having workers in China stitching together shirts emblazoned with wolves and crying eagles, we can have computers do the work instead, leaving workers more time to create poisonous children’s toys and toxic overalls.

These unique clothing designs can be found via Ecouterre.