A fashion line with a new take on the production of clothes

We developed this collection with 2 goals in mind, create something beautiful and explore non-traditional approaches to get there. I’d like to think we accomplished both, though maybe not the way we first imagined.

We threw out the traditional production process of measure, cut, sew, fit and repeat in favor of more modern and adaptable processes. Leveraging digital design and fabrication techniques, primarily laser cutting and 3D printing and methods such as photogrammetry and computational design. The contrast of hand sewn silk garments versus digitally fabricated stark white tessellated garments leads us to Lustre’s concept. But first a huge shout out to 2 of my good friends Carolina Tamayo and Alyssa Hamilton, who I got the chance to work with on this collection.

Lustre logo
Lustre mood image of crystals

Lustre - the way light interacts with the surface of a crystal, rock, or mineral.

Our collection, Lustre, is inspired by geological formations, by the singular moment when a geode is split open, revealing colorful crystals within. With this in mind, the line showcases a natural progression of breaking down, perforating and shattering the rigid, rock-like structure of tessellated Yupo Paper, to reveal from underneath the free flowing fabrics of iridescent silk.

This concept is directly linked to the idea of clothing being a shell of the human form that socially delineates cultures and that only by breaking open this shell, and the prejudicial implications that go with it, can we reveal the true being within.

Lustre catwalk
Kira on the catwalk
Sketch of Kira's Outfit
Anna on the catwalk
Sketch of look 8
Sketch of look 9
Backstage photo of the our team
Bella on the catwalk
Sketch of Bella's outfit
Kendra on the catwalk
Sketch of Kendra's outfit
Neha on the catwalk
Sketch of Neha's outfit
Charlotte on the catwalk
Sketch of Charlotte's outfit
Shana on the catwalk
Sketch of Shana's outfit
Nika on the catwalk
Sketch of Nika's outfit
Sade on the catwalk
Sketch of Sade's outfit
Amaya on the catwalk
Sketch of Amaya's outfit

I also want to thank Yupo Opens a new window for being our sponsor for this collection and Jonathan Leung, Yutong Chen and Victor Song for many of the wonderful photos you see.

Step 1 - Take photos with robotic arm
Step 2 - Process photos using photogrammetry techniques
Step 3 - Cleanup and scale the model

A new take on fashion production

In order to reduce the number of fitting we had to do with the models and experiment with unconventional ways to create a fashion line we decided to 3D scan our models.

We did this by using a ABB robot (those big robotic arms you generally see assembling cars), with a camera mounted to it taking several dozen photos of our models then converted those images into digital 3D models, using photogrammetry techniques which we could then fit and design our looks around.

Alyssa operating the ABB
Linework of Nika's look
Anna standing ready for scanning
3D printed parts on tray
Rehan changing camera settings
Kendra digital modal
Carolina laser cutting
Digital model outfit
Orange ABB robot closeup
Rendering test
Mid-scan camera positioning
3D print digital model pieces

Behind the Scenes

This project took quite a bit of computing power often times more them we had available. We regularly crashed several of our design tools as we tried to created higher resolutions pieces and while increasing the number of automated steps.

Lots of iteration as we pushed the tolerances of our tools, from the fidelity of our 3D mesh models to the resolution of our 3D prints.

Clothes fitting with Amaya
Clothes fitting with Kendra
Outfit and 3D print component sketches

Initial sketches of look ideas and components we could 3D print.

Wearing Origami
Back stage candid

Some behind the scene images day of the show. #wearingOrigami