From Slow To Fast, Expensive to Affordable
Do you appreciate mannequins when you see them at store displays, or find them attractive doned in designer clothes at pre-fashion shows? The faceless yet perfectly proportioned life-sized statues are integral to the fashion industry and retail clothing stores all over the world.
A Dutch company, Hans Boodt, a top supplier and manufacturer makes unique high-end mannequins for distinguished clients like Karl Lagerfeld, Hermès, and Emilio Pucci. Most mannequins for high-end customers are sculpted by hand in order to produce anatomical perfection, which makes their creation a lengthy and often expensive process. It takes eight weeks to sculpt one particular mannequin with its realistic features, fluid poses, eyelashes, and human hair wigs. High quality brands can fetch more than $1,000 per unit.
There are other companies, other than Hans Boodt, that want their own mannequin styles to describe their collection. There will be clients who would have their own specifications, so the mannequin producer should be able to turn a design brief in as little time as possible and of a high quality.
Now, Hans Boodt is able to meet the challenges in today’s industry. Using less time to manufacture, from 8 weeks to just 2 days, the company resorted to using large-scale 3D printers from Tractus3D, a fellow Dutch company.
With the Tractus3D T3500, a delta-style FDM 3D printer with a 100 cm printing diameter and 210 cm height, Hans Boodt has been able to 3D print entire mannequins in one piece, eliminating the need for outside suppliers and reducing costs by around 10 per cent. The company has an entire fleet of this printer model, all of which are able to fabricate entire personalized mannequins that are ready for immediate use and shipping.
While the Tractus 3D printer is too pricey for personal use, Hans Boodt as an established company has come to realized that the speed of 3D manufacturing, the decreased material cost, and high quality results made their move a good investment. They are able to ship new mannequins faster than ever. The company has become a huge draw for fashion labels that want to get personalized, branded mannequins onto the shop floor or exhibition space in the shortest possible time.
Have a Mannequin Idea in Seattle?
Got a start-up business where you might use a mannequin? 3D Composites is inviting you to come over for a chat and an idea. We might just be able to help you.
