Fashion designer Rohan Mirza has teamed up with Sculpteo to develop a 3D printed armour piece that was exhibited at this year's Paris Fashion Week.
Tattoo artist “Bravo Chouchou”, whose manga-inspired style blends cuteness with darker, sometimes gory undertones, collaborated on the design of the piece. Her designs, reinterpreted as sculptural surface patterns, are said to transform the armour into wearable art that 'bridges illustration, animation and high fashion.'
Drawing inspiration from Reita, an iconic J-pop artist known for his noseband and long hair, the collection explores themes of concealment and identity. While high fashion pieces might often hide the eyes or mouth of the model, the partners sought to deliberately obscure the nose to create an 'unfamiliar yet striking transformation of expression.' This vision extends into the 3D printed armour, which incorporates fake hair elements as a further nod to Reita’s signature aesthetic.
Influenced by the presence of armour across popular culture, from Iron Man to Metal Gear Solid, the collection reimagines protective shells as adaptive garments. Through Multi JetFusion 3D printing technology, the armours are said to achieve a mineral, stone-like texture, far removed from the plastic finish of traditional 3D prints. The pieces adapt elastically to the wearer’s body, eliminating size constraints and offering inclusivity in tailoring rarely seen in couture armour. Sculpteo deployed Ultrasint TPU 01 material to print the pieces, with little-to-no post-processing required.
Alexandre d’Orsetti, CEO of Sculpteo, said: “The collaboration with Rohan Mirza at Paris Fashion Week shows how 3D printing can transcend its industrial roots and become a fantastic medium for artistic expression. By pushing the limits of SLS technology, we were able to achieve textures and structures that resemble natural materials, bringing couture-level detail to pieces that would be impossible to craft through traditional means. It’s a perfect example of how innovation, technology and creativity can come together to push the boundaries in fashion.”
Rohan Mirza, Director of Rohan Mirza studio, added: “3D printing allows us to prototype freely, but in this case, it also became the material itself, transcending plastic to create something almost organic yet wearable. Working with Sculpteo made this vision possible, producing a piece that feels as noble and crafted as leather or fabric.”
