An exploration of the sustainable and aesthetic possibilities of 3D printing onto textiles as an alternative to traditional surface decoration

Burn, Kirstie; Vettese, Sam; Shackleton, John

Abstract

Embellishment, in a fashion and textile context, can be considered an extraneous decorative process that has a significant detrimental impact on the environment. However, aesthetic and cultural theories, in addition to consumer appeal, show that it is a worthwhile endeavour. This PhD project intends to address the ecological impact of the waste that can be caused by discarded, embellished textiles by creating a 3Dprinted alternative, utilising biodegradable cellulosic materials that may return to the soil as 'food'. The outputs were also tested for their strength of adhesion, in addition to their potential visual attributes. Initial findings from the research at this stage show that there is potential to develop this technique, aesthetically and structurally, for wider use within the mainstream fashion and textiles industry.

Citation

Burn, K., Vettese, S., & Shackleton, J. (2017). An exploration of the sustainable and aesthetic possibilities of 3D printing onto textiles as an alternative to traditional surface decoration. In Circular Transitions Proceedings (141-154)

• Conference Name: Circular Transitions
• Conference Location: London, UK
• Start Date: Nov 23, 2016
• End Date: Nov 24, 2016
• Acceptance Date: Sep 14, 2016
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Sep 20, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 27, 2018
• Pages: 141-154
• Book Title: Circular Transitions Proceedings
• Keywords: Textile waste, environmental impact, embellished textiles, 3D printing, biodegradable cellulosic materials,
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1302539