2020 • Textiles • Digital Fabrication
The process uses FDM 3D printing technology to extrude thermoplastic directly onto woven textile surfaces, bonding polymer to fiber through controlled heat and pressure. Print patterns are designed to accommodate textile flexibility, using lattice structures and interrupted geometries that allow the underlying fabric to bend and stretch. The adhesion between plastic and textile creates a hybrid material where rigid 3D-printed elements provide structural support while the fabric base maintains drape and movement. Different textile weaves—from loose canvas to tight synthetic—require adjusted print temperatures and speeds to achieve proper bonding without damaging fibers. The studies investigate how 3D-printed patterns can create localized stiffness for shaping garments without traditional seaming or boning. This technique offers potential for customized textile reinforcement, enabling form-fitting structures that move with the body. 
