Written by Sammi Cohen

Israeli Designer Showcases 3D-Printed Sustainable Garments and Shoes

Today's customers are making environmentally friendly products a priority. In fact, one recent survey found that 70% of consumers were willing to spend more for eco-friendly furniture, with most saying they'd pay 20% more for that sustainability pledge. For many, it's not enough to fill one's home with green items; they also want to wear them. Sustainable fashion is becoming more mainstream both in the stores and on the runway. And now, many designers are combining technological prowess with a desire to protect the planet. Case in point: Israel's Ganit Goldstein, who continues to stun fashion lovers with her unique flair and affinity for 3D printing.


3D printers are now being used to make everything from construction-grade concrete to artificial limbs for both animals and humans. It also holds a lot of promise for alleviating world hunger. But this technology isn't all serious. It's also being utilized to create a plethora of products both useful and frivolous, including high fashion ensembles.

Goldstein, a recent graduate of Jerusalem's prestigious Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, has made headlines before -- but her career looks like it's really starting to take off. Her "Between the Layers" collection consists of seven full outfits and six pairs of shoes, all of which are 3D printed using thermoplastic polyurethane and polylactic acid. After being inspired by a study abroad opportunity in Japan, Goldstein created an innovative weaving process using her 3D printer and manual techniques.


Notably, Goldstein partnered with Intel to create an augmented reality app to illustrate her creative process. She also teamed up with Stratasys, a 3D printer brand, to develop her sky-high, woven shoes. The footwear is part art, part technology -- and all sustainable. They were first showcased with the collection during the Arts of Fashion Foundation's annual show, but they'll also be exhibited at the Internationale Handwerksmesse in Munich this spring.


Of her process, Goldstein explained that "working with the traditional methods, and combining them with new technology, is my vision and my inspiration for my future works." The designer feels that 3D-printed fashion "will change the way people design and wear clothes. 'Personalized, one-of-a-kind' pieces that are specifically created for one single person are the future of 3D-printed fashion."

We've always stated that shoes are art to us and love how they are sculpted, so we're truly excited about this amazing collaborative exhibit from leading footwear brand, United Nude, and 3D Systems, leaders of 3D Printing. In celebration of New York Design Week (which began May 8th), these two innovative companies joined forces to bring you a collaboration project + exhibition called Re-Inventing Shoes. This exhibit features shoe designs made with the latest materials and most advanced 3D printing technology, from an unprecedented group of the worlds leading architects and designers (Ben van Berkel (UNStudio)- Architect, Zaha Hadid - Architect, Ross Lovegrove - Product Designer, Fernando Romero - Architect, and Michael Young - Product Designer). These five incredibly creative masterminds explored and challenged 3D printing technology, by designing 3D printed ladies high heels, some of which are featured below:


"The production method used is the highest quality of 3D printing (SelectiveLaser Sintering) in a hard Nylon and all-new soft Rubber material. UNITED NUDE have figured out a way to combine harder and softer 3D printed parts for creating fully functioning shoes. Each shoe will be available as a up to 50 pair limited edition."

To see the full exhibit first hand, stop by the United Nude Flagship Store, located at 25 Bond Street, where these ingenious, avant-garde shoes will be on display until June 3rd 2015.