7.1. 3D printed feather shoulder accessory by Catherine Wales

7.1. 3D printed feather shoulder accessory

by Catherine Wales (2013)

New technology could see the 3D printer become the modern equivalent of a sewing machine: simply download a design, customise it according to your body measurements, and print off a tailored garment.

The 38-year-old designer Catherine Wales is on a mission to democratise fashion via 3D printing. She has produced a collection of 3D-printed accessories that can be custom-designed to fit any body shape and printed on demand.

But we’re still a long way from enjoying a print-on-demand personal wardrobe: exorbitant prices and unwieldy printers mean 3D printing isn’t easily accessible outside the industrial design sector. There’s also the fact that not everything needs to be 3D printed. “There’s always going to be an appreciation for hand-craft,” says Wales. “But I think it would be amazing if the process of fitting garments could be influenced by new technology without losing the skill of the craft.”