Laser Cutting Feat. Louis Vuitton and The Met Gala
The History of Laser Cutting
For many, the thought of laser cutting usually translates to some industrial ideas of cutting metals and woods. Not exactly for textile materials like silks and cottons.
In the mid-1960s, researchers from the Western Electric Engineering Research Center produced the world’s first laser cutting machine.The first usage of laser cutting machines took place in 1965 to drill holes in diamonds.
Western Electric had been producing laser-based cutting machines at a rapid rate, and by the 1970s this process had made its way into the aerospace industry.
Little did people expect lasers to move from aerospace to the fashion industry in 1970. Lasers were adapted to to cut leathers, PVC, cotton, rayon, etc.
The precise cutting of intricate patterns, structures, and panelling complicated patterns has given the conceptual world of couture and abstract art. Laser cutting had entered into the service techniques of designs to aid designers with abstract, exaggerated concepts for runways shows such haute couture or intricate costumes for film production.
Complex costumes tend to be constructed with 3D print casts and decorated with laser cut embellishments and patterns. However, laser cutting has become a staple in low cost, intricate detailing in more common departments such as Ready to Wear, Bridalwear, and sportswear. Whether it be floral cutout patterns on a wedding dress to perforated ventilating mech holes in your athletic tights.
LOUIS VUITTON, Marc Jacobs
DRESS, Spring/Summer 2012, prêt-à-porter
LOUIS VUITTON, Marc Jacobs
DRESS, Spring/Summer 2012, prêt-à-porter
Our laser cutting department had the honor of aiding Marc Jacob’s Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2012 collection which graced the Manus x Machina Exhibit at The Met.
The Washington Post had prompted the question,
“Can machine made fashion dazzle like handmade couture?”
The exhibit had proved the answer to be yes, indefinitely. The emphasis on technological innovation in fashion had proved to be captivating.
Though old traditional techniques such as hand beading and hand embroidery are treasured for their intricacy and art. However for extremely detailed concepts that require low cost and shorter production time turnaround, laser cutting does not sacrifice creativity in place of efficiency.
The dress was a vision of 3D blue bouquet and vaguely familiar to Marc Jacob’s own Daisy Fragrance line.
Blue and white laser cut plastic flowers were hand sewn onto blue silk -polyester organza. Then our embellishment team grommeted the flowers with clear swarovski crystals and silver metal studs.
Each process of structure the gown was carefully done by meticulous hands.
ThreeasFOUR designed the MER KA BA dress as part of their “Dress and Underdress” collection.
Our laser department created stunning swirling patterns etched and cut into bonded silk organza and nylon power mesh.
MER KA BA, threeASFOUR’s Spring/Summer 2014 collection, was inspired by the “sacred geometries” of tile-work patterns found in synagogues, churches, and mosques around the world. The title MER KA BA embraces many spiritual concepts: Merkaba is a mystical form of Judaism; ka ba alludes to the Kaaba, the holy site of the Mecca pilgrimage; Muraqaba is a Sufi meditation practice.
The video below highlights ThreeasFOUR’s design process, as well as the use of our laser machines to create the panels.
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