3D knitted fabrics are now very popular in fashion sector. It is now possible to find 3D knitted cloth and shoe designs. This technology stepped into furniture and household goods sectors with Ikea’s 3D printed furnitures.
Starting its industrial journey in medical and automotive sectors, 3D printing is now active in textile sector. 3D knitting is preferred in technical textile, sportswear and shoes and its seems to draw Ikea’s attention as well. The company presented its portable chair produced with 3D knitting technology.
According to IKEA, 3D-knitting produces durable furniture that can withstand years of wear
and tear and regular stretching.The 3D-knitted chair is part of the company’s PS collection, which stands for post scriptum. It is renewed every three years with a different focus and set of designer collaborations.
The PS 2017 armchair was created by in-house designer Sarah Fager, who described the technique as one that was particularly suited to a global operation like IKEA’s. “At IKEA we have been curious about this 3D knitting technique for some time,” said Fager. “We have all seen it being used in those colourful sneakers and it’s a really smart way to produce things, since it’s fully automatized and this knitting machine can be placed at any supplier to combine it with other materials in a product. “The lightweight armchair is designed to look semi-transparent, lending limited living spaces a sense of ‘airy openness and space’.
3D-knitting uses computer-controlled machines to knit fibres into complex, seamless shapes based on a digital design. The technique was originally developed in the garment industry but is gradually finding a new role in the world of furniture.The applications created stretchy backrests, designed to recall the comfort of stretching back in a hammock.
