Julia Körner marries fashion with 3D printing in the design of the Setae Jacket, which takes its cues from butterfly wings.

Setae Jacket forms a part of the Chro-Morpho collection by Stratasys, an American manufacturer of 3D printers, and is designed to demonstrate how technology can work in harmony with textiles.

The jacket was made using microscopic photos of Madagascan Sunset Butterfly wings, which were digitised into an algorithm. This algorithm translated the colour pixels in the photos into bristles that were then 3D-printed onto denim to form the garment.

Each bristle is intended to resemble setae – a stiff structure resembling a hair – found on the butterfly wings. When the jacket is in use, they move with the wearer to create what Körner describes as an "enigmatic visual effect".

Körner is one of 15 designers who have been selected by the Austrianfashion.net, a platform that promotes designers from Austria, to exhibit work at Virtual Design Festival.

"[Körner's] work on the future of 3D, as well as on its current applications, can be seen as revolutionary practice," Austrianfashion.net explained.

"Strongly believing that the future of fashion is 3D, Körner is making sure she is at the forefront of the revolution."

Photography is by Ger Ger.

Design: Setae Jacket
Designer: Julia Körner
Contact address: [email protected]
Instagram: @koernerjulia

Film credits:

VDF x Austrianfashion.net

Austrianfashion.net is a non-profit organisation that promotes contemporary Austrian fashion design. Virtual Design Festival has teamed up with the organisation to present accessories and fashion designs by 15 designers who were born or are based in Austria and produce their products both sustainably and locally. Explore the other designs here.