Shay's Glass Dress Project Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Speaker: Shay
• Topic: Making a wearable glass dress inspired by fashion designs.

Inspiration and Goals

• Initial Inspiration: Glass dress by Zach Posen in 2015.
• El Fanning's Version: Brought the idea back into focus.
• Criteria for the Dress:
  1. Look like glass.
  2. Be wearable.
  3. Affordable with Shay's skills, budget, and materials.

Background Research

• Zach Posen: 3D printed resin dress.
• Iris Van Herpin: Real glass dresses, worked with a glassblower.
• El Fanning: Dress made with organza and resin.

Experimentation with Materials

• First Attempt: PETG thermoplastics.
  • Pros: Very clear.
  • Cons: Wrinkled, not shaped well, burnt easily.
• Instagram Advice: Clear Worbla.
  • Pros: Flexible, easier to mold, didn’t burn.
  • Cons: Expensive, flimsy.

Deciding to Use Resin

• Initial Reluctance: Due to safety and complexity concerns.
• Tests with Resin:
  • Pro: Stayed super clear and sturdy when applied over thermoplastics.
  • Con: Previous tests with just resin or resin on illusion mesh were unsuccessful.

Final Plan and Execution

• Dress Form: Sculpted from Crayola’s Model Magic.
• Forming the Dress: Using clear Worbla and resin coating.
• Success: Resulted in a clear and somewhat flexible dress that fulfilled all criteria.
• Under Dress: Made from iridescent fabric to avoid transparency issues.

Final Thoughts

• Achievements: Created a clear, wearable dress within constraints.
• Wearability: The dress is structurally sound but not comfortable for sitting.
• Future Projects: Open to new ideas; interested in exploring various types of creative projects.

Sponsor Mention

• ThreadUp: Online thrift store for sustainable fashion.
• Discount Code: Shay for 45% off and free shipping.