In early 2025, New York fashion designer Harleen Kaur set out to integrate 3D printed embellishments into her 2026 bridal collection as a sustainable, modern alternative to hand embroidery. With no prior experience in additive manufacturing, she reached out to 3D print studios and experts to understand how 3D printing could meet her brand’s creative and material needs.
What followed was a months-long collaboration that bridged two industries with very different timelines, materials, and mindsets. Through extensive prototyping, materials testing, and workflow design, Kaur’s 3D printed garments ultimately debuted on the runway at New York Fashion Week and are now being produced for sale.
This session presents the project as a real-world case study on how additive manufacturing for fashion can move beyond one-off prototypes into scalable, fashion-ready production. Attendees will gain an inside look at the technical, creative, and communication challenges that had to be solved to make 3D printed fashion viable — and the practical lessons for AM professionals seeking to collaborate with apparel designers.
Learning Objectives:
Understand what the additive manufacturing industry needs to know before partnering with fashion brands and designers.
Identify where 3D printing can deliver genuine value to fashion— from creative innovation to on-demand production and sustainability.
Learn how to translate between two industries — aligning design intent with production realities to create repeatable, profitable results.
