Is 3D Printing Really Feasible for a Fashion Line Start-Up?

I know that in starting a fashion line, that part of my strategy HAS to include a technology component. Therefore, I looked at one of the biggest trends that has everyone talking: 3D Printing. But I am not famous and cannot afford higher production prices & all the rumors that I have heard is that this new technology would be replacing the fashion industry as we know it and would be cheaper than the normal supply chain prices. But is it true? 

When I first began to research this ideology my understanding of how 3D printing clothes would actually work was skewed. I thought it would be a glorified printer where I could feed it the fabric of my choice and it would print out my design. Boy was I wrong. 

I started googling and googling found some cool things but none which could fulfill the KARISH. Line. 

The Research

The first company I came across was Elctroloom, and was so excited ..until I found out that they had shutdown. Their goodbye  message had me in tears, but led me to other sites like Unmade who specialize in knitting and knit-wear. But my specific line specializes in Silks and Chiffons.. so I kept looking.

​​From the Electroloom website, I went to BOLT threads  (who recently partnered with Stella McCartney).. Since these guys are actually genius scientists, making fabrics from sustainable goods (yeast and such) it would be too pricey for a startup like mine to actually afford using them as a viable option.

​I even watched a Ted Talk by Danit Peleg who tried the same thing and found that it's a little bit difficult to find filament that makes comfortable clothing fabric. She finally found something that kind of works but not at the weight of chiffon and silks...and still looked really intricate to put together. Me and her have the same types of visionary goals.

​Later in my journey, I found a place that actually prints out clothes & thought where do I get this machine?? I WOULD
​D-I-E TO WORK WITH THESE GUYS! They seem to have figured it out. ​

​This machine is closest I found and goes for around $3K, plus all the applications that come with it. If you were just starting is this something that you could afford? I'm not convinced.

In Conclusion

As it currently stands there is nothing that can fully replace the fashion line supply chain today. It is too costly & sure maybe worth the investment -- in 10 years this is a possibility but there are a lot of kinks to be worked out. 

Of course, there are other technology avenues to explore-- but if the production & customization of clothes piece of the supply chain could actually be worked out, there would be a 10 fold effect on the industry. 

I have faith that technology will soon make our lives easier. But in the mean time, ​I will launch a line that is a hybrid approach that will standardize sizes but also offer to custom size my line at no additional cost to the consumer.