Ada Hefetz Is Using 3D Printing to Transform Wedding Dresses

Could you imagine a bride in a 3D printed wedding dress? It may come as a surprise, but in fact the idea is already a reality. Israeli designer Ada Hefetz has launched a new line of wedding dresses made using additive manufacturing, namely three garments that combine traditional design with new technologies. The original creations are based on Hefetz’s “Flower of Life” theme and the intricate and eye-catching elements have been produced thanks to Stratasys’ 3DFashion™ technology. This allows for direct 3D printing of the models on a textile surface. These wedding dresses are part of the latest series celebrating the marriage union, the circle of life and design. They were first shown at Milan Design Week last April, but are currently on display at the D-House Urban Laboratory in Milan.

Ada Hefetz is known for designing couture garments and wedding dresses that combine modern classic chic with vintage style. Now, she is using additive manufacturing for the first time to push the boundaries of design in the fashion world even further. As the designer says: “I wouldn’t be able to achieve such complicated geometric designs without the Stratasys 3DFashion technology, as attaining this level of symmetry by hand would simply be impossible. The 3D printer allows me to digitally create new forms using mathematical formulas, and print these directly onto the fabric, ensuring the pattern is replicated perfectly.” Once again, we can see how 3D printing plays a fundamental role in the creation of garments, changing the paradigm of the fashion industry.

Two of the wedding dresses created by 3D printing by Ada Hefetz (photo credits: Stav Peretz).

3D Printed Wedding Dresses from Ada Hefetz

To create the decorative elements of the dresses, Hefetz used the J850™ TechStyle™ 3D printer from Stratasys. Using PolyJet 3D printing, this solution allows printing directly onto fabric in more than 500,000 unique colors with different levels of flexibility, simulating different textures and finishes. In this particular project, VeroVivid™ translucent resin was used as the fabrication material. The intricate “Flower of Life” pattern is composed of overlapping circles that intertwine to form flowers. Thus, the designer has combined it with her design of a lily to symbolize the union between two individuals and the circle of life.

Compared to traditional methods, additive manufacturing allows designs to be created in less time and at lower costs. This is enabling designers around the world to diversify and expand their creative ideas. Hefetz continues: “During the COVID pandemic, I closed my studio and used the time to innovate. I wanted to pursue 3D printing and the design opportunities it opens up, and having spoken to a few specialized designers, Stratasys’ TechStyle printer came highly recommended. I’m so pleased with the results so far and the designs it has enabled that I am planning to use this for all of my future collections.”

The Stratasys technology used in the three dresses provided a pearlized shimmer effect to reflect the designer’s vision. 3D printing made it possible to use organic algorithmic designs to obtain a piece that combined tradition and innovation. In addition, many other 3D printing technologies also offer great benefits in fashion. As a result, it has now become a key tool for the industry’s top designers.

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*Cover Photo Credits: Stav Peretz