New York Embroidery Studio is keeping up with couture fashion’s cutting-edge requests with the help of Stratasys’s 3D Fashion technology, and hopes to show off the results at this year’s Met Gala, as Emilie Eisenberg reports
New York Fashion Week is a time for creativity and exploration. During this year’s celebrations, New York Embroidery Studio (NYES) hosted an open-house event in the Garment District where it showcased its collaboration with 3D printing specialist Stratasys.
Founded by Michelle Feinberg in 2002, NYES specialises in embroidery that embellishes the creations of many renowned designers. Its work is regularly seen at runway shows and at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Met Gala. Small production runs are handled by its Manhattan studio. Larger runs take place at partner factories in China and India. The studio’s in-house capabilities include laser cutting, hand sewing, embroidery – and more recently, 3D printing.
At NYES’s Fashion Week event, the focus was on direct-to-textile 3D printing. Here, the company uses the Stratasys J850 TechStyle printer, powered by Stratasys’s 3D Fashion technology. This prints in a wide range of colours and offers multi-material capabilities, printing directly onto fabric, garments, footwear and other luxury accessories.
Merging traditional embroidery techniques with 3D printing allows NYES to streamline workflows and reduce material waste while creating its personalised, intricate designs. Designs can be printed precisely, with consistent quality and able to withstand wear and tear.
Product development is sped up by rapid prototyping, and performance is enhanced by the use of materials including carbon fibre composites for durable yet lightweight designs.
“The J850 TechStyle is an extraordinary addition to our capabilities, allowing us to elevate creativity while delivering on our commitment to innovation and sustainability,” says Michelle Feinberg, owner and creative director of NYES. “Our clients are thrilled by the possibilities this technology opens up, from high-end fashion to VIP and entertainment projects.”
NYES’s designers have used the J850 printer to create elaborate, embroidered illustrations that include fruits, insects, flowers and intricate lace designs.
Elevating creativity
The Met Gala is considered the most prestigious fashion event in the world, attended by big-name stars from the worlds of the arts, fashion, sports and politics. The theme of this year’s Met Gala, due to take place in May, is ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’, which ties in with an exhibition of the same name, exploring the importance of sartorial style to the formation of Black identities around the world.
As ever, NYES hopes to be involved in creating the dresses and outfits of Gala invitees, many of which will be entirely custom-made and fitted. This year, it will be able to bring 3D printing into the mix, in order to create even more eye-catching designs.
“Our latest 3D-printed swatches bring intricate textures and elevated details that can take any tailored look to the next level,” says Feinberg. “Whether it’s sculptural embellishments, modern lacework or dimensional patterns, these elements add a unique, innovative touch to classic craftsmanship.”
But the Met Gala is just one of many events at which NYES hopes to showcase its collaboration with Stratasys and demonstrate how 3D printing could change the rarified world of haute couture. On social media, Feinberg is already active in promoting the potential of this partnership to NYES fans and clients. Its work with Stratasys has only just begun.
This article first appeared in DEVELOP3D Magazine
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