Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers and fashion brand Ministry of Supply have produced a "4D-knit dress", using heat-activated yarn that allows its shape and fit to be altered in an instant.
The project builds on the idea of 3D knitting, where textiles are knitted as three-dimensional shapes rather than flat sheets that have to be cut and sewn together to make a garment.
The fourth dimension represents time, as the 4D Knit Dress is knitted in a basic tube shape but can later have its form altered through the application of heat via a programmed robot arm.
The 4D-Knit Dress is altered through the application of heat
This might mean changing its shape to anything from a form-fitting sheath dress to a voluminous bubble dress, or it can mean making small tucks to produce a fit perfectly customised to an individual's body. The process can even create details like ruffles or ruching. Researchers from the Self-Assembly Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which is behind the project, say the 4D-Knit Dress is a more sustainable alternative to traditionally produced clothing that cuts down on the waste from both manufacturing and excess stock.
Self-Assembly Lab founder and co-director Skylar Tibbits told Dezeen that producing items of clothing in too many sizes and too many styles was both costly and unsustainable for the fashion industry.
The style of the dress can be altered along with the fit
"By having one dress that can be customi...