The fashion industry has wrestled with the issue of leather waste during the handbag prototyping process. Countless models are created before one, final, design is selected, resulting in a staggering carbon footprint and tons of wasted leather and other materials. After years of seeing the amount of leather wasted each year, Fashion Designer Ashely Alleyne saw an opportunity to harness the power of 3D printing as an alternate solution for purse designs. She envisioned a future where purse designs could be prototyped and modified using 3D software, eliminating the need for physical leather samples and paving an innovative and more sustainable approach for the industry.
While conducting research on prototyping solutions, Ashely learned about Stratasys’ PolyJet, a 3D-printing technology that produces hyperrealistic, full-color prototypes by jetting multiple layers of liquid photopolymer materials. After seeing an image of several full-color models with multiple textures including leather, Ashley became even more determined to pursue her goal of using 3D printing on her purse prototype. So, she turned to Stratasys Direct.
Stratasys Direct worked with the designer to refine the purse design to make it more conducive for the 3D printing process. Manufacturing experts recommended making the coral and sea life solid instead of hollow, and thickening sections to improve the durability and build quality of the purse. They also oriented the build so that the bag would be printed on its back to reduce print time and hide layer lines on the colored elements on the purse.
After the prototype was printed, support material was removed from the external surfaces and internal cavity of the bag. Stratasys Direct’s finishing team then wet-sanded the part to do reduce layer lines to achieve a smoother look. After hand finishing, the last step was applying a high gloss clear coat to a patent-leather appearance.
Ashley Alleyne’s unwavering commitment to reduce leather waste in the fashion industry through 3D printing and collaboration with Stratasys Direct led to an innovative solution with huge potential for the fashion industry. By eliminating the need for physical leather samples and embracing 3D printing, Ashley was able to demonstrate the design freedom, complexity, and ultra-realistic prototypes that can be achieved through additive manufacturing. This project is an example of how one person’s passion and perseverance can inspire positive change and inspire others to challenge the status quo in pursuit of a better world.
