Technology is transforming the fashion industry at a much faster pace. From the invention of sewing machines to the present era where the sewing and cutting of fabrics are all done by the robots to AI predicting fashion trends, technology has transitioned through a lot of phases. Now the apparel companies are looking forward to using 3D technologies to speed up production as well as to reap the green benefits that the 3D technologies can bring in.
Among the big garment brands that rule the fashion industry, Tommy Hilfiger has already rolled out its 3D technologies at its headquarters in Amsterdam. It is expecting to implement 3D designs in all its sectors by 2022 when all its design collections will be done through 3D technology.
In support of using 3D technologies in garment production, the apparel correspondent at GlobalData, Beth Wright puts her thoughts in the right track and remarked, “Leveraging 3D technologies in design and prototyping tools such as virtual-fit avatars allows brands to streamline production, bypassing the often laborious process of producing physical samples and making the consequential alterations. What’s more, reducing the number of physical samples that have to be made not only prevents waste but also limits the time-consuming and high carbon footprint process of freighting the prototypes between designers and manufacturers – all steps that help fashion firms operate more sustainably.”
The garment experts also put forward the tons of benefits that the 3D technologies can bring in. Likewise, using 3D technologies for production can reduce fabric waste by up to 20% as compared to the conventional cutting and sewing processes. The 3D technologies also reduce the need for sample productions, which in turn reduces the upfront production cost to a manifold. Its ability to visualize and prototype new fashion trends are replacing physical samples. Using 3D technologies can also provide competitive advantages for the customers to create customized garments on the spot, to preview their designs before they actually buy them. This reduces the hacks of altering and exchanging garments after customers find them, a misfit. Therefore, 3D directly yields to money and time savings for designers. In fact, the popularity of 3D designs has also reduced the cost of 3D printers from $100,000 to only $5000.
As such, 3D printing has taken over the fashion industry and has been acting as a game-changer since its inception in the fashion market. Blessed with the robust potential to create even the most complex designs, 3D technology is gradually empowering individuals, corporations and businesses, with its creativity and reduced supply chains.