3D Printing
IN PHOTO: An example made by the Shapeways 3D printing company is seen at their office in the borough of Queens in New York, September 17, 2014. Shapeways is a young Dutch 3D printing firm that has two factories, one in Eindhoven in the Netherlands and one in New York, that let anyone - from haute-couture designers to cat-lovers - print what they want. CEO Peter Weijmarshausen moved the firm's headquarters to New York in 2010 to be close to tis main market and attract talent and investment. Picture taken September 17, 2014. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Haute couture. High fashion. Without a doubt, the fashion industry turns to the impractical, if not flat-out absurd. Pushing the limits of fashion further, creations made from 3D printing were showcased at a catwalk in China.

Sponsored by Chinese 3D digitising and printing titan Shining 3D, the show invited contestants to submit entries from April 20 to May 15. The winning creations graced the runway and its backdrop of large-scale video screens at the Third World 3D Printing Technology Industry Conference and The Second World Expo in Chengdu, China.

Shining 3D exhorted contestants to come up with “innovative, exciting, and fashion-forward ideas” that rely on 3D technology to come to life, 3DPrint.com reports. They were not disappointed with the results, as they exceeded all expectations for design and fabrication of garments, shoes, eyewear, hats, accessories, jewellery and anything else couture-related. Shining 3D teamed up with Pinshape, a growing online 3D-printing service and community, as well as an array of other sponsors to host the 2015 Shining3D Fashion Show Design Contest.

Founded in 2004, Shining 3D is a broad-spectrum 3D digitising and printing company. They’ve been providing machinery and services in many different sectors, from industrial manufacturing and biomedical technology to education and cultural and artistic creation. Shining 3D’s market has expanded globally over the past ten years.

Citing a US Consumer Electronic Sales and Forecast report, Headline Science Now stated that in 2014, the projected revenues from this technology was to reach US$76 million [$98 million], an increase of 43 percent in 2013.

“With huge advancements in digital technology, 3D printers are moving toward more compact units that are more suitable for consumers and capable of printing a variety of consumer goods, from toys and electronics to clothing, shoes and even food,” Karen Chupka, senior vice president of International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and corporate business strategy, was quoted as saying.

Data from Business Wire showed that China holds 8.7 percent of the 3D printers worldwide and ranks number three in the numbers of 3D printing patents. Advances in the creation of metal powders, especially titanium, have helped further 3D printing technology.

Titanium dioxide is best suited for use in 3D printing because it's easier to transform into powder and can be applied in a variety of new applications. A new titanium explorer located in Chile, White Mountain Titanium Corporation (OTCQB: WMTM), would debut in 2017 and contribute to the global high-grade rutile supply.

Contact the writer: a.lu@ibtimes.com.au

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