Additive manufacturing and the exciting future of fashion

For Jessica Joosse, a master’s student in industrial design, the fourth industrial revolution reshaping industries worldwide presents a remarkable opportunity. Within the fashion industry, tools like the Ultimaker 3D printer offer an ideal gateway to embrace and explore these possibilities. Jessica first encountered 3D printing during her time at Eindhoven University of Technology and quickly recognized how additive manufacturing could enable her to swiftly transform her design concepts into tangible products. Her ultimate ambition is to create fashion items that foster stronger connections between consumers, designers, and brands. According to Jessica, the fourth industrial revolution paves the way for brands to produce more personalized clothing by leveraging innovative techniques such as 3D printing and even body scan technology.

3D printed clothes

The result is a balanced mix between different traditional textile designs, with closures, buttons or 3D printed designs, along with fully 3D printed items.

The process begins with researching what types of fabrics will work with 3D printing. Then, when one is selected, it goes directly onto the build plate and is secured with tape or clips. To get the precision she needs, Jessica uses an augmented reality app to perfectly position the area of ​​the garment that will be 3D printed on the build plan.

For larger models, the material can be moved and a new print can be made on a different area, exceeding the limits of the 3D printer’s build volume.

New perspectives in design

As in high-end design, Jessica uses 3D printing to achieve a combination of aesthetics and functionality. Patterns and finishes added to a garment using a 3D printer, such as belt loops and zippers, can also serve a practical purpose.

In addition to printing on fabrics like cotton and denim, Jessica says 3D printing can “fuse” designs into synthetic fabrics. The use of semi-flexible 3D printing materials, including TPU 95A and Arnitel DSM, allows parts to mold to fit body shapes.

By combining these innovative methods and materials, Jessica can create designs that simply wouldn’t be possible with any other approach. «An Ultimaker 3D printer can do everything I can imagine. With a sewing machine you’re limited,» says Jessica.

Together with colleague Fabienne van der Weiden, Jessica founded Labeledby, a company that offers a service to designers and brands to help them innovate their production methods. And for this project Ultimaker proved to be fundamental!

Conclusion

Jessica’s application of 3D printing in fashion successfully demonstrates that the technology is moving beyond simple novelty, achieving a powerful combination of aesthetics and enhanced functionality in garment design. The technique allows for the direct addition of complex patterns and finishes onto fabrics, transforming elements like belt loops and zippers from mass-produced components into custom-printed features that serve a dual, practical purpose.

A key innovation is the ability to print directly onto diverse textiles, from natural fibers like cotton and denim to the process of «fusing» designs into synthetic fabrics. This fusing capability opens doors for high-durability, seamless integration. Furthermore, the selection of semi-flexible 3D printing materials, such as TPU 95A and Arnitel DSM, is crucial. These flexible polymers enable the printed parts to mold and conform to body shapes, ensuring that the functional additions maintain comfort and fit without restricting movement. Ultimately, Jessica is utilizing 3D printing not just for decoration, but as a strategic manufacturing tool to create highly customized, structurally integrated, and ergonomically superior garments that align with the standards of high-end design.