【3D Printed Fashion】Farewell My Concubine: The World's First 3D Printed Peking Opera Costume!
PhD student Mingjing Lin and startup fashion designer Cai Chun have been collaborating with Sinterit for some time. In the exclusive performance of "Farewell My Concubine" by a Peking Opera singer at the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London, the actor will wear special costumes that combine traditional craftsmanship with new 3D printing technology. They believe that "craftsmanship" and "technology" together can create new and inspiring things. Based on their expertise, they applied 3D printing to create continuously pleated costumes for Peking Opera.
Challenging New Materials
The concept of the costume was a fabric with specific properties. To create this texture, it had to be both flexible and continuous. In this case, the costume fabric not only presented special effects but was also an important element of the performance, so it had to be extraordinary. Using 3D printing can offer more possibilities for dramatic geometric shapes; for example, three-dimensional, hollow texture designs, and some new materials even have wear-resistant properties.
However, to meet these conditions, 3D printing materials also had to meet two main functions: first, they had to be able to achieve the shapes designed by the artist; and second, they had to be wearable by Peking Opera performers on stage for free movement, as the costumes in "Farewell My Concubine" are inextricably linked to the storytelling.
The Struggle Between Culture and Technology
Mingjing Lin emphasizes: "I wouldn't describe myself as an artist; researcher is more fitting. There was even a time when I was against high-tech, and many designs were done by hand. I really like the tactile feel of materials and want to touch and feel life and natural objects. But when I tried 3D printing, everything became unstoppable, because 3D printing indeed offered the opportunity to realize imagination."
Sinterit Lisa met all the expectations for this collaboration, using flexible powder — Sinterit Flexa Black — allowing the texture to synchronize with the actor's body. This material is completely wearable, with the emphasized stylish parts replacing the original traditional materials; at the same time, the new material maintains a harmonious form with traditional costumes.
Although the material from Sinterit Lisa can also be dyed, the monochromatic colors and minimal embellishments of the costumes in this performance perfectly complement contemporary aesthetics. In the future, this SLS 3D printing material can further research the relationship between movement, fashion, and the body.
Blending Old and New, Igniting Sparks
3D printed fabric has a texture different from traditional costumes. The unique texture brought by special materials will attract diverse audiences to the exhibition, and its combination with traditional Chinese opera costumes will also spark new cultural brilliance. Mingjing Lin stated in an interview: "Peking Opera is a communicative medium because it is beautiful, exquisite, and embodies rhythmic and physical language. Furthermore, we believe that the costumes of Peking Opera have been unvarying in the past. Combining modern design and technological elements can expand Peking Opera to a wider, younger audience." By blending new technology with traditional craftsmanship, the definition of fashion is elevated to a new level.
3D printing technology is becoming more widely applied across various fields. SLS technology has previously been used to create swimwear for Miss South Africa (further reading: 3D Printed Fashion Enhances Miss South Africa's Look), and various new powders are constantly being added, developed, and tested. In addition to the flexible Flexa Black mentioned in the article, you can refer to previously shared Sinterit series new prints (further reading: Sinterit Composite Material New Print, Super Flexible Structure!).
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