In the comparatively short expanse of time humanity has existed, there has been an immense amount of technological innovations. However only limited amounts have been as innovative as 3D printing has the potential to be. There is the prospective for 3D printing to revolutionise aspects of every individual's basic human needs, particularly in regards to physical essentials and intellectual thinking. 3D printing has the potential to change many industries and its particularly exciting to explore the potential the technological development will have on the fashion industry. In my final collection I hope to produce garments that incorporate 3D printing elements whilst producing garments that are still physically sound and intellectually intriguing. .
Innovations that were once revolutionary for their time, such as the printing press in 1448 (Schuler, 2004) and the assembly line in 1913 (Pbs.org, 1995), stimulated immense escalations in creativity, making products more readily and easily available to the majorities; Products that were once challenging or realistically difficult to obtain or create. .
"In examining the history, benefits and implications of 3D printing, we will see how this technology is truly a boon to innovation with the potential to see a massive boost to global quality of life" (Ruede, 2012). In 1984, Charles Hull invented the process known as stereolithography, which is a form of printing process and technology (Plate 1.1), which enables a physical 3D object to be created from digital data (Price, 2014) with the aid of a computer. Since its introduction many objects that the most experienced craftsmen could only dream of achieving have been made possible through this form of 3D printing. Stereolithography was the basic stepping stone for today's modern form of 3D printing. In fashion, garments have been produced from 3D printers that no traditional crafted fabric would be able to replicate.