Evaluation of Hybrid Structures in Wearables Manufactured with Additive Manufacturing Technologies in terms of Sustainable Design and Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing offers sustainable solutions in different sectors and research areas, including the fashion industry. This study explores additive manufacturing as a sustainable design and production tool. Sustainability of additive manufacturing requires addressing its impact on the life cycle. Within the scope of the article, the compatibility of additive manufacturing used in the field of 3D printed wearable with socio-ecological sustainability principles was questioned, with the inclusive view of the Sustainable Life Cycle Assessment method. In this context, a conceptual perspective was provided to the discussion of research questions with a systematic literature review. The Sustainable Life Cycle Assessment clarified progress in additive manufacturing and improve in material innovation. New materials and advanced design methods have paved the way for the concept of Design for Additive Manufacturing. In this context, the design analysis of the wearable projects produced with polymers evaluated in this context, presented data on the biomimetic structure properties in additive manufacturing design. The biomimetic design approach allows additive manufacturing to create hybrid material structures in wearable fashion products. The results are presented in a color matrix that allows to see where the main effects are. The findings show that the strategic sustainability perspective is effective in identifying opportunities and preventing risks in the sustainable development process. The integration of sustainable design methods and tools at the innovation stage supports sustainable development. Sustainable solutions offered by additive manufacturing throughout product life cycles; freedom of design, customized design, high complexity and through design optimization can be seen in related topics such as material efficiency, strong structures, low volume, energy saving, waste management.