Aaron Rowley of Electroloom: A Textile Factory in a Box
On this week's episode of the Electric Runway podcast, we're speaking with Aaron Rowley of Electroloom, a company posed to radically transform how we manufacture textiles.
If you've been to tech conferences with 3D printers, it's likely you've seen your share of trinkets and knick-knacks that supposedly demonstrate the "radical possibilities" of 3D printing: comic figurines, oversized sunglasses, novelty bow-ties. Not all that interesting. It's possible you're already over 3D printing altogether.
BUT, if you’ve heard of designers like Iris Van Herpen and Francis Bitonti, or if you’re paying attention to what big brands like New Balance and Nike are up to, you’ll understand the new future that 3D printing presents: 3D printed gowns, high heels, and sneakers are giving us a glimpse into a future of fashion that’s highly customized.
But what about 3D printed fabric? What about a 3D printed design that comes out of the printer with little to no assembly required?
Picture this: You have an event on Saturday night. You can envision the perfect dress you’d like to wear, but you don’t own it yet. You can spend your entire week searching for your dream dress in department stores and boutiques in hopes of finding something close that fits your body and your budget, or you can head to your computer.
Imagine sketching out your dress on a computer software, or downloading design data online. Send this information to your Electroloom printer and the next morning your brand new 3D printed dress is hot off the printer ready-to-wear, no assembly required.
This is the dream, and while it’s still a ways away, it’s a dream Aaron Rowley is helping to make a reality with his company Electroloom.