CHENNAI: Batik, tie-dye, bonding, dyeing, stenciling… there are a lot of ways in which embellishments can be done on fabric. But have you ever heard of embellishments done on fabric using a 3D printer? Purani Sanjeevirajan, a freelance designer and a final year student of FDDI has come up with Chennai’s first 3D-printed embellished garment — ‘Paint the silence’. Excited about her latest venture, the 20-something designer talks to CE about her newly found love and her dream of becoming India’s 3D clothing expert.
Working meticulously on her final year portfolio, Purani says she stumbled upon 3D printing while on the lookout for something unique. In the initial phase of research, she found that 3D printers are often used in the healthcare industry to print small parts for surgery and also in the engineering industry. “That’s when I thought why not apply this in fashion? This has already been tried by a handful of people abroad. They have gone to the extent of printing a full garment using 3D printing technology; but that kind of thing is suitable for their weather, not ours. So I decided to make embellishments on cotton fabric,” she says.
It was a very ‘complicated process’ and Purani did not know a lot about 3D printers. “There are several models of these printers, each having different software. But I was able to find people on the internet who helped me order a printer suited to my requirements,” she explains. Printing a cube design can take about two hours and 15 minutes. “It’s basically like a normal printer- the only difference here is that the design is transferred to a pen drive connected to the printer.
Also instead of the input being a paper, we have several inputs that can be placed inside – plastic wires (eco friendly plastic), wood and so on. It took me more than a day to print 10 to 15 such cubes!” she narrates. However, this was the case with printing embellishments on one dress alone. She recalls that it took an entire week to complete printing embellishments on six dresses. With positive responses so far, Purani says that she looks forward to be known as ‘the’ 3D clothing expert. “It’s too soon to talk but I want to start a label that will be synonymous with 3D printed garments — more 3D and less fabric. I am sure I will find ways to make it suitable for weather conditions here.
Everyone wants to try and do something new…so why not be the torchbearer?” she grins. So what’s her favourite memory been? “Designing it was amazing but what really excited me was the fact that even the models who wore my clothes were intrigued by the concept. Some even went to the extent of thinking that I had melted plastic by hand and made the embellishments.
It took time for them to realise what was going on…I showed them videos of the printing process and they were thrilled!” Ask her when she plans to get into fullfledged business and pat comes the reply: “Very soon! I am planning to exhibit few pieces in upcoming design pop ups and fashion exhibitions. I want to learn more before I take the final plunge,” she adds.
For details, visit: https:// www.facebook. com/purani - sanjeevirajan7/