The Intersection of Fashion and Technology

On the other hand, and looking ahead, the potential of 3D printing in fashion extends beyond aesthetics. The technology promises a future where garments are tailored to individual body types, promoting inclusivity and personalisation. Moreover, it paves the way for on-demand production, reducing waste and fostering sustainable practices within the industry. As 3D printing continues to evolve, it not only redefines the creative possibilities for designers but also sets the stage for a more sustainable and personalised fashion landscape. Here we talk about some independent brands that are integrating 3D printing to produce garments that blend art, technology, and fashion seamlessly — pushing the wide possibilities of design.

ALIVEFORM is redefining the future of footwear by merging cutting-edge 3D printing technology with nature-inspired design. Founded in 2022, this Tokyo-based brand emphasises a "Nature x Future" philosophy, creating fully 3D-printed shoes that are both innovative and sustainable. This is thanks to a print-on-demand production that creates pairs of shoes only when needed, which eliminates the waste of leftover stocks, and a constant need to research the possibilities of footwear design. Pek Shun Ping, the Singaporean designer that established ALIVEFORM, started the brand with the desire to reimagine what shoes could be, exploring design techniques in an already saturated footwear market.

Their pieces are created through the understanding of the wide range of techniques and materials that are available, choosing what aligns better to the design, conceptualising, and production processes, always taking into consideration wearability and comfort. Thanks to this and 3D printing, each pair holds intricate, organic shapes that traditional manufacturing methods can't achieve, as well as the potential and flexibility to customise the shoes to a wider range of target audiences and foot conditions, as well as performance. ALIVEFORM’s innovative approach positions it at the forefront of the intersection between technology, nature, and fashion, offering a glimpse into the future of footwear design.​

Thanks to the use of 3D printing to construct their unique pieces — which range from bags, jewellery, or even futuristic monster-looking pink gloves — the Shanghai-based label has been able to merge two aesthetics that we didn’t know we needed or that we could achieve in real life: a cyberpunk bold look mixed with a dreamy, princess touch. There’s a strong sense of duality in the work — combining hard and soft, synthetic and organic, minimalism and maximalism — resulting in a look that feels both avant-garde and anime-like but meticulously refined as well. By leveraging the precision and versatility of 3D printing, Extro Code is able to produce cutting-edge pieces that blur the lines between fashion, art, and engineering. Apart from being quite cool, this innovative approach not only minimises waste but also opens the door to hyper-customisation, setting a new standard for sustainable, futuristic fashion.

3D printing and design blended in fashion doesn’t necessarily need to mean fantasy or surreal aesthetics — it can also be integrated into street style. This is what the Milan-based brand Sfero Design, is achieving at their own design studio: pieces that feel made of rubber, like their iconic Scarf-Cap, or chains, bags and sneakers that can only be achieved thanks to 3D printing. The label is shaking things up with its fresh take on fashion, thanks to mixing tech and style and using digital tools to craft pieces that are part sculpture, part clothing. Bold shapes, wild textures and silhouettes we feel we have seen before in street style — but not quite — Sfero isn’t just experimenting; it’s reimagining what clothes can be. All while cutting down on waste and pushing for smarter, more sustainable design, the brand is reinterpreting fashion with a futuristic but ever-cool twist.

Scry is defined as a pioneering footwear laboratory that seamlessly integrates 3D printing technology into avant-garde fashion design. Founded in 2020 by Zixiong Wei, the brand seeks to push the boundaries of future footwear by eliminating the need for traditional moulds, which enables the creation of complex, customised structures that challenge conventional design limitations. Scry’s approach to 3D printing allows them to experiment with complex, organic forms that feel both otherworldly and functional. The result is footwear that challenges the traditional idea of what shoes should look like, offering not just style, but an avant-garde, bold, and futuristic aesthetic.

The brand not only offers footwear, but they have also experimented with accessories such as jewellery and collaborated with brands like HELIOT EMIL, which allowed Scry to showcase its 3D-printed creations on global platforms, including Paris Fashion Week. Their campaigns, which dive deeper into AI and 3D by featuring digital clothing designs, introduce us even more into this dark, futuristic universe crafted by the brand. By combining high-tech materials with abstract design, Scry is redefining the role of footwear in contemporary fashion, making each pair a statement of both innovation and artistic expression.

Posthuman Lab is a jewellery brand which is redefining fashion by fusing 3D printing with bold, futuristic design. Their collections are a perfect blend of art and wearability, featuring sculptural garments and accessories that look like they’ve stepped straight out of a sci-fi movie; in their own words, they meld the digital and the neo-physical into a creed that celebrates both worlds. With intricate designs, their pieces of accessories push the boundaries of what's possible, taking fashion into a place where digital creativity meets cutting-edge craftsmanship. 3D printing lets them push the limits of traditional design, allowing for complex, personalised pieces that challenge how we think about clothing. And it’s not just about the looks — the brand is all about sustainability, with a focus on reducing waste through on-demand production. Each piece is a statement, a mix of tech, art, and fashion that feels like the future of what we wear.