A Space-Inspired 3D Printed Dress Is Coming: The Vortex Dress

Fashion designer Laura Thapthimkuna just announced the design for her next fashion project: the Vortex Dress. The Vortex Dress will be Laura’s first fully 3D printed dress. Her fascination with the universe was the driving force behind the design. Read on to learn more about this stunning space-inspired dress.

Laura began researching artistic interpretations of how the combination of space and time creates the fourth dimension. After extensive research and sketching, the Vortex Dress was born:

”I think what makes the dress different is the concept behind it and the overall design. I really tried to doing something quite different and very sculptural. I wanted to create a dress with no apparent beginning or end to it structurally. Something organic-feeling with mathematical elements.”

The Vortex Dress by Laura Thapthimkuna

The Vortex Dress by Laura Thapthimkuna

While Laura was forming the dress in her head and putting it down on paper, she knew she wanted to ultimately execute it through 3D printing technology. “In the past, I always felt limited by fabric,” says Laura. “So when I discovered 3D printing, it became kind of an open door to limitless possibilities of what I could do and how I could create these designs in ways that I never was able to in the past.”

In order to virtually sculpt this piece, Laura collaborated with UK-based 3D designer Stephen Ions. He was able to recreate the dress as a 3D design using the 3D modeling software Maya and ZBrush. The dress will then be printed in Mammoth Resin via i.materialise’s online 3D printing service. After the printing process, the dress will be airbrushed in a black high-gloss clear coat. In order to give it a sleek, futuristic appearance mimicking black holes in space, Laura will enlist California-based color studio Creations n’ Chrome.

The Vortex Dress by Laura Thapthimkuna

The Vortex Dress by Laura Thapthimkuna

However, before this incredible dress can be printed, Laura needs your help. That’s why she’s launched a crowdfunding campaign to help to bring this space-inspired piece of fashion to life. Visit Laura’s Kickstarter page to learn more about the dress and to help this talented designer turn her design into 3D printed reality.

For more 3D printed fashion pieces, check out Laura’s alien-inspired neckpiece here, or take a look at stunning 3D printed dresses by fashiontech designer Anouk Wipprecht here. If you want to print something yourself, you only need to provide us with a 3D file and we can print your object in a vast selection of materials.