Mechanical engineer and 3D printing enthusiast, Samantha Sandison, started her 3D printing journey while working in a lab at Boise State University where she learned to design and 3D print parts for lab equipment. Sandison later began 3D printing toys at home and posting them on TikTok. She was inspired to start a fashion line after watching long-form YouTube videos from another 3D printing fashion account called Sew Printed. Sandison hopes to inspire people to be more creative and innovative through 3D printing with her social media platforms. Her 2023 collection, Myriad of Reflections, will have 15 looks and will be exhibited in an independent runway show this July and again in Boise Fashion Week.
Plastics News reported on the story of mechanical engineer and fashion designer, Sarah Sandison, who has combined her passion for 3D printing and fashion to create a unique line of clothing. Sandison’s journey began when she started working in a lab at Boise State University, where she was responsible for fixing equipment when it went down. As the only mechanical engineer in the lab, she used YouTube and the school’s Innovation Studio to learn, design, and 3D print parts for equipment.
After graduation, Sandison worked for Caleb Chung, the co-creator of the Furby. However, it was her hobby of 3D printing toys at home and posting them on TikTok that led her to start her fashion line. Sandison was inspired by another 3D printing fashion social media account called Sew Printed, which helped her figure out how to 3D print wearable items that fit people’s bodies. Sew Printed’s long-form YouTube videos were particularly helpful to Sandison in learning the techniques to create wearable 3D printed fashion.
Sandison’s commitment to sustainability is evident in her efforts to keep her plastic waste at zero. She saves all of her plastic scrap and failed prints for a future project, where she plans to cast them in resin tiles to create a giant rainbow floor. Sandison’s commitment to sustainability extends to her fashion line as well. She uses sustainable materials like recycled nylon and biodegradable TPU to create her designs.
Sandison’s social media platforms are intended to inspire people to be more creative and innovative through 3D printing. She believes that creativity is a skill that can be learned and practiced, and she loves explaining how 3D printers work and showing people what they are capable of. Sandison’s 2023 collection, Myriad of Reflections, will have 15 looks when it is finished. The collection will be exhibited in an independent runway show in July and again in Boise Fashion Week.
Sandison’s story highlights the potential of 3D printing in the fashion industry. With the ability to create customized, sustainable clothing, 3D printing offers a new way to approach fashion design. Sandison’s commitment to sustainability and her passion for 3D printing and fashion have led her to create a unique line of clothing that inspires others to be more creative and innovative.
