Dita’s Gown: A 3D Printed Dress

I’ve witnessed many amazing things that come from the magic of 3D printing, but never in a million years would I imagine it transposing to the fashion world. Leave it to 3D master Francis Bitonti to make it a reality in this collaboration, Dita’s Gown, with designer Michael Schmidt Studios and Shapeways, one of the pioneers in the 3D printing world.

Recently debuting on Dita Von Teese, the dress was created virtually with Schmidt designing it exclusively on his iPad and communicating with Bitonti via Skype. The process included the printing of 17 pieces and 3,000 joints that allow the dress to move as the body does. Shapeways did the printing of each piece and once complete, they were lacquered black and detailed with 13,000 black Swarovski crystals.

The results are a curvy, meticulously designed dress that flows with the body. Awesome, right?

Photos by Albert Sanchez Photography.

Caroline Williamson is the former Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk and a writer with a passion for modern design, architecture, and creative culture. She holds a BFA in photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, solving New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or curating Spotify playlists.

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