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2016
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February
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Published
2016/02/29
Kinematic Petals Dress
press release
3dprint
![](http://www.tumblr.com/share/photo?source=https%3A%2F%2Fn-e-r-v-o-u-s.com%2Fprojects%2Fi.php%3F%2F001%2F042%2FPetals-Dress-triptych%2Clarge.1456767704.jpg&caption=%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Ca href="http%3A%2F%2Fn-e-r-v-o-u-s.com%2Fprojects%2Findex.php%3F%2Falbums%2Fkinematic-petals-dress%2F" title="Kinematic Petals Dress"%3EKinematic Petals Dress%3C/a%3E%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe+Museum+of+Fine+Arts%2C+Boston+%28MFA%29+commissioned+Nervous+System+to+create+a+new+dress+for+the+exhibition+%23techstyle+which+runs+from+March+6+through+July+10%2C+2016.+The+exhibition+explores+the+synergy+between+fashion+and+technology+and+how+it+is+not+only+changing+the+way+designers+design%2C+but+also+the+way+people+interact+with+their+clothing.%0A%0AInspired+by+petals%2C+feathers+and+scales%2C+we+developed+a+new+textile+language+for+Kinematics+where+the+interconnected+elements+are+articulated+as+imbricating+shells.+Like+our+previous+garments%2C+this+dress+can+be+customized+to+the+wearer%E2%80%99s+body+through+a+3d+scan%2C+and+additionally%2C+each+element+is+now+individually+customizable%3A+varying+in+direction%2C+length%2C+and+shape.%0A%0APetals+protrude+from+the+underlying+framework+of+tessellated+triangular+panels%2C+sheathing+the+body+in+a+directional+landscape+of+overlapping+plumes.+Each+interlocking+component+of+the+dress+is+rigid%2C+but%2C+in+aggregate%2C+they+behave+as+a+continuous+textile.+The+dress+is+3D-printed+in+durable+nylon+plastic+by+Selective+Laser+Sintering.+While+the+design+is+composed+of+more+than+1600+unique+pieces+interconnected+by+more+than+2600+hinges%2C+it+emerges+from+the+3D+printer+fully+assembled+and+ready+to+wear.+We+employ+a+smart+folding+strategy+to+compress+Kinematics+garments+into+a+smaller+form+for+efficient+fabrication.+By+folding+the+garments+prior+to+printing+them%2C+we+can+make+complex+structures+larger+than+a+3D+printer%2C+that+unfold+into+their+intended+shape.%0A%0ATo+make+this+dress+possible%2C+we+developed+new+design+software+and+simulation+tools.+The+overlapping+petals+necessitated+a+new+strategy+for+compressing+the+garment+for+efficient+3D-printing.%3C/p%3E&click_thru=http%3A%2F%2Fn-e-r-v-o-u-s.com%2Fprojects%2Findex.php%3F%2Falbums%2Fkinematic-petals-dress%2F){kind=link}