Review of Recent Advancements in 3D Printing Technologies for Textile Applications

3D printing (3DP) ranks as one of the more advanced methods in the manufacturing sector. All of the industrial sectors, including automobiles, medical services, aviation, athletics, fabrics, apparel, and fashion industries, have noticed an increase in the use of this approach for prototyping. In the past decade, 3DP technology has been applied in several industries by academics, textile technologists, designers of apparel, manufacturers, and suppliers. Textiles perform numerous purposes in addition to meeting the basic human need to protect the body. The textile industry has expanded its horizons with the incorporation of 3DP technology. This paper's goal is to present an integrated overview of the recent state of research to identify the most advanced 3DP techniques, materials, and applications currently used in the clothing and textile sectors. Fundamentals of basic textile substrates, numerous textile-related 3DP technologies, printing methods, materials for print inks, direct printing of 3D elements on different textile surfaces, and the impacts, benefits and limitations of 3D printed textile structure fabrication techniques are all addressed. It also emphasizes the ways 3DP technology will be used in the textile sector moving forward. Overall, the purpose of this issue of Textile Progress is to identify the potential of 3DP, which, despite certain limits, may improve the products of the fashion and textile sectors and encourage future scientists and designers to continue additional research.