Bespoke Tailoring Evolved: The 4D Knit Dress
Until recently, bespoke tailoring — clothing made to a customer’s individual specifications — was the only way to have garments that provided the perfect fit for your physique. For most people, the cost of custom tailoring is prohibitive. But the invention of active fibers and innovative knitting processes is changing the textile industry.
Active Textiles
Students in the Self-Assembly Lab have been working with dynamic textiles for several years. The yarns they create can change shape, change property, change insulation, or become breathable. Previous applications to tailor garments include making sweaters and face masks. Tibbits says the 4D Knit Dress is a culmination of everything the students have learned from working with active textiles.
The 4D Knit Dress
The dress combines several technologies to create personalized fit and style. Heat-activated yarns, computerized knitting, and robotic activation around each garment generates the sculpted fit. A team at Ministry of Supply led the decisions on the stable yarns, color, original size, and overall design.
“Everyone’s body is different,” says Skylar Tibbits, associate professor in the Department of Architecture and founder of the Self-Assembly Lab. “Even if you wear the same size as another person, you’re not actually the same.”
Design and Development
Sasha McKinlay, a recent graduate of the MIT Department of Architecture and textile designer and researcher at the Self-Assembly Lab, designed the 4D Knit Dress with Ministry of Supply. McKinlay helped produce the active yarns, created the concept design, developed the knitting technique, and programmed the lab’s industrial knitting machine.
Beyond Fit and Fashion
Efficiently producing garments is a “big challenge” in the fashion industry, according to Gihan Amarasiriwardena, the co-founder and president of Ministry of Supply.
“A lot of times you’ll be guessing what a season’s style is,” he says. “Sometimes the style doesn’t do well, or some sizes don’t sell out. They may get discounted very heavily or eventually they end up going to a landfill.”
Conclusion
The 4D Knit Dress is a revolutionary garment that combines the benefits of bespoke tailoring with the efficiency of modern manufacturing. By using active fibers and innovative knitting processes, the dress can be tailored to fit individual physiques and styles, while also reducing waste and minimizing the environmental impact of the fashion industry.
FAQs
Q: What is the 4D Knit Dress?
A: The 4D Knit Dress is a revolutionary garment that uses active fibers and innovative knitting processes to create a personalized fit and style.
Q: How does the 4D Knit Dress work?
A: The dress uses heat-activated yarns, computerized knitting, and robotic activation around each garment to generate the sculpted fit.
Q: What are the benefits of the 4D Knit Dress?
A: The benefits of the 4D Knit Dress include a personalized fit and style, reduced waste, and a minimized environmental impact.
Q: Is the 4D Knit Dress available for purchase?
A: The 4D Knit Dress is currently available for demonstration and feedback at the Ministry of Supply flagship store in Boston.
