We have seen 3D printing on the fashion runway before, but the N12 bikini from Continuum Fashion is bringing 3D printed fashion into the home.
Clothing-maker Continuum calls themselves “part fashion label, part experimental design lab,” combining emerging technology with high fashion.
In this case, Continuum’s designer Jenna Fizel wrote a program that generates a custom bikini swimsuit lattice pattern based on the contours of the customer’s body.
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.
Watch the video below for details on how this bikini is custom designed and 3D printed.
