Will 3D printing clothes at home be the norm by 2050?

3D printers are already appearing in garden sheds and garages all over the country as hobbyists tinker and develop their own designs in the comfort of their own homes.

But one expert believes that using this technology to print out clothing will be the norm in the coming 40 years, as 3D printers take their place among the other household appliances we use every day.

Joshua Harris told PSFK that his design for a clothes printer will bring clothing production into the home, transforming the fashion retail industry.

"Being able to print your clothes in-house (literally) would mean there are no wasteful transportation costs, or factory costs associated with the clothes you buy," he stated.

"Not only is this saving you money, it's saving the environment - a combination your rarely hear these days."

Mr Harris' design was placed in the semifinals of the annual Electrolux design competition in 2010 and the brief for contestants was to come up with a solution to deal with the rapid urbanisation of the population by 2050.

But although Mr Harris' design for a clothes printer is not a traditional 3D printer, the inventor does - unlike some developers - set a realistic timeframe for 3D printing technology to develop an become a normal part of domestic life. 

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