Thursday 28 February 2013

Stripes, 3D Flowers & The Possibilities of 3D Printing

Alright. I know I say this a lot (but I always mean it!). So here goes. This is my new favourite dress. It features super eye-catching stripes and is, in general, spectacular. I love items of clothing with an element of novelty and this one did not fail to deliver - I was surprised when I opened the package containing the dress, and noticed that many of the flowers are actually three-dimensional!

dress - c/o Romwe
sweater - Vintage & DIY (cropped)
tights - Yoshida (Japan)
collar clips - c/o Merrin & Gussy
shoes - Body Line
belt - Vintage
hairband - Claire's (Japan)
Speaking of three-dimensional, I was just reminded that 3D printers exist and I've never even talked about them on the blog before! They've got to be one of the coolest inventions and sciencey things ever, I think.

But first, if you haven't really heard of 3D printing before, then this is what it's all about:
Think of a normal two-dimensional paper-and-ink printer. You send a file to it from your computer, and it prints out ink onto a sheet of paper.
3D printers, instead of using ink, use various materials (like plastics) and layer by layer, using cross-sections of a 3D file that you send to it via your computer, the printer creates your three-dimensional object in real life. For example, this is a citrus juicer that you can download and then print out at home from Thingyverse:
But it isn't all plastic homewares. Just recently, scientists from the University of Edinburgh have created a cell printer that can print living tissue. We are getting to the stage where printing out organs from your own cells, that will fit you perfectly and remove the worry of transplant rejection if you are ever in need of an organ transplant, is a feasible technology.

And there are some other applications of 3D printing which - while not as revolutionary as that - are still pretty awesome. If you're serious about chocolate, you can order a 3D printer designed specifically for chocolate making, for around $4000. Layer by delicious, chocolatey layer, the printers can make intricate shapes like faces and letters using chocolate as its material.

If you're in love with your minecraft creations, it may make you happy to know that you can have your whole little world printed out for you at Mine Craft Print.

And I've been happy to see that the fashion industry has also gotten onto the 3D printing bandwagon (images from 3D Printing Industry).
You're even able to create your own fashion items, and upload them for people to print out at home at places like Cubify and Thingyverse! (Although personally, I think 3D fashion may be in need of a serious overhaul by some slightly more stylish folk...)

So maybe in a few years time, you'll see a blog post from me saying "Oh hey guys, I designed and uploaded this dress last night and you can download it and print it out at home via this link here". And then you'll all switch on your 3D printers, print out the dress I uploaded, and be wearing it that same day. How freaking cool would that be? With the advances we've seen in 3D printing in the last 5 years, surely more comfortable dress fabrics aren't too far away! Are you guys starting to understand why I get so excited about science???

A whole lotta love to you all,

20 comments:

  1. Ahhhh LOVE THIS - your creepers are divineeee! <3

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  2. I've been eyeing on that dress for so long now!! You look so gorgeous waaahhh I love this look!!

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  3. I wrote about 3D printing for chocolate and fashion at work but I was told they were unsuitable and unimportant afterwards. I don't believe that for a minute :P

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    1. WHAT. That's ludicrous. Your bosses suck haha. Where do you work?

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    2. I work at a digital company; broadband, 3D TV etc. I took the liberty of writing about something interesting and I got told off for it :P

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  4. Love the colours of the dress, the flowers really do pop on those stripes! I'm really excited by 3D printers, partly because we just got one in the lab and starting Tuesday I get to mess around with it for a couple of weeks instead of doing coding.

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    1. Aw man, im so excited for you!! And jealous! I need to find out if my university has one and make friends with the people who get to use it, haha (and maybe also learn how to program.)

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  5. I've been eyeing that dress on Romwe for a while! I love the layered look you did with it! I always end up just wearing dresses by themselves, but this makes me want to branch out and use your layering as inspiration!! And that 3D printing information is wild! I love it!

    www.thesoubrettebrunette.blogspot.com

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  6. You look super cute <3 I'm in love with your amazing dress, even if I hate Romwe and their quality of clothes. This dress just look awesome on you :).
    http://coeursdefoxes.blogspot.com/

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  7. Hi Annika! I have a question. I know this may sound silly, but could you make a post showing how you layer your sweaters and shirts over your dresses? I've tried doing that, since most of my sweaters are hips lengh and not cropped, I always end up looking slightly ridiculous. Do you have any advice for a layering newbie?

    Hugs,
    Molly

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    1. Yeah! Sure I could do a post about that! Well, cropped sweaters are definitely a massive help (I actually cropped this one myself with a sewing machine), but when I have a longer sweater I want to layer but look cropped, I fold it up inside itself and use a belt to secure it all;) I'll try and do a post about it soon though! Xx

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  8. You look great!
    My illustration professor used to be a medical illustrator, and for some procedures the doctors actually had working body parts printed using a 3d printer! Isn't that crazy?

    Rachel

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  9. I'm in love with the dress and creepers, omfg I want these creepers.. I'm saving money and maybe I can have my.. I just need a credit card :\

    nasty-lady.blogspot.com

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  10. omg this dress is super super cute!
    I love the contrast between the vertical stripes and flowers.
    How do you adjust the sweater like this? Did you cut it?

    xoxo
    alice c'n'r
    http://cutenroll.blogspot.it/

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    1. I actually cut it shorter, then hemmed the raw edge. It's so much more useful for layering over dresses now that it's shorter!

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  11. This dress is so adorable!

    Becky
    xx

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  12. I'm so excited about 3d printing. I'm starting a shoe design course in London in September and they have a 3d printer so we'll be able to print out awesome heels! I can't wait to have a go

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    1. WOW!!! I'm so excited for you!!! Please please blog about it when you do, and send me links! :D

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  13. I love how you layered that sweater with your dress! Oh so pretty! :)

    xoxo,
    Laura
    http://lauraisthriftingthroughlife.blogspot.com/

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