michael schmidt on the first fully-articulated 3d gown.
3D printing is waiting for fashion to push its buttons. More recently Mykita has been making both sports and optical glasses. But it’s been a year with little to shout about. Pity. A year ago, the first articulated 3D-printed gown, by jewelry designer Michael Schmidt with architect Francis Bitonti for burlesque icon Dita Von Teese was shown at the Ace Hotel in NYC. A floor-length nylon gown made using selective laser sintering (SLS), where material is built-up in layers from plastic powder fused together with a laser. Draped over a nude silk corset, the black-lacquered dress is cinched at the waist and exaggerated at the shoulders and embellished with 12,000 Swarovski crystals. The dress was printed by Shapeways. Michael Schmidt on the dress…