Sustainable Fashion With 3D-Printing Technology

I must admit I’ve been guilty of it. I’ve bought the latest and trendiest clothes knowing full well its shelf life in my closet will last me one season – two max. And according to the Fast Fashion Global Market report, I’m not alone in my buying habits. The fast fashion industry is expected to grow from $91.23 billion in 2021 to $99.23 billion over the course of 2022. This trend in fast fashion, which is described as low-cost designs that are quickly transferred from the runway to stores, is only adding to a well-known sustainability problem in the fashion industry. 

The fashion industry is responsible for 10 percent of the global carbon emissions and is expected to rise by more than 60 percent by 2030 according to the UNFCCC. And what about clothing that’s not purchased or is discarded? About 80% of donated or discarded textiles wind up in landfills – that’s 92 million tons of clothing globally. These textiles can take up to 200 years to decompose – releasing dangerous methane gas into the atmosphere in its very slow death. 

But what if we can have fast fashion at our fingerprints and make it recyclable?  

The Best of Both Worlds: Quick and Sustainable Fashion with 3D Printing Technology

Moon Creative Lab is looking to revolutionize how fashion is created, consumed and recycled with innovations in 3D printed materials. This project, created in partnership with fashion designer Danit Peleg, involves the research and development of wearable fabrics from recyclable plastic filaments. (More about Danit: In 2018, she was recognized as one of Europe’s Top Women in Tech by Forbes. In 2019, the BBC named her as one of the 100 most inspiring and influential women in the world.) Using 3D printing technology, this patent-pending material can be used to create fashion on demand that is both comfortable and environmentally friendly. 

Instagram: @danitpeleg3d

Imagine 3D printing an outfit from a file on your computer in the comfort of your own home. If trends change, you can reuse the material from your old outfit to print another one! This is fast fashion that you can feel good about!  

Moon is working on a number of projects with major fashion brands to apply this new technology and patent-pending material in exciting new ways! Still lots to come from this developing space, but I am personally proud of the work the Moon team and Danit have done so far!

We’ll be sure to share more on the progress of this project in the months to come!

Mary Ann Gallo
Chief Marketing Officer
maryann@mooncreativelab.com